The Boy started high school on Monday. He's loving it. I'm not sure when they started allowing babies in high school. I could swear that just last week he was 4 years old. *sigh* He also got his permit on his birthday and drives us around any time we let him. He's better than I was starting out, but it's a good thing we have a year to improve before sending him solo. Football is going well. He's starting offense and defense. He's had a couple of scrimmages, but the first game is Thursday. Also breakfast with the coach is Thursday.
The Husband and I are bonified boosters and that's a perk, breakfast with the coach. I'm not sure how perky I'll feel come 6:30 a.m., but I really want to go and say, "Hi, I'm Alex's mom." so he can say, "Yes, Alex. He's a good kid, works hard, glad to have him on the team." And he will. This isn't a fantasy, it's pretty much how football related talks go with coaches. Perhaps it's living in Texas, but we have become football fanatics. We have dreams of the NFL, in fact, in our minds, it's pretty much a given. While watching the draft this year, I was looking at the families and I told my boy, "Don't worry, I will not wear a dress that ugly when you're drafted." And he said, "Thanks for saying 'when' and not 'if"." As if I would say "if".
You may think pride goeth before the fall, but that's not it. We know it's a one in a million shot, but it's the same shot everyone else has. I watched that boy raise $800 mowing lawns this summer so he can buy a car next year. He's willing to work for what he wants. He may not get there, but he has my full support in his efforts. He says if the NFL doesn't work out, he'll start applying to law schools. I have no problem standing behind that either.
Soon, he'll be dating and before I know what's hit me, he'll be graduating high school and going off to college. Along the way, I've constantly reminded myself to be in the now because I knew it would go by fast. I think it helped a little, but not enough. I miss the days of having my kid in my lap watching Yu-Gi-Oh. As much as I love the young man he's become, I miss my baby.
I can't bring those times back so I'm looking forward. SAT prep, missed curfews, skanky girlfriends... Bring it! This year's football motto is "Be about it." There's no 'I' in Team, but there is one in "I will put my foot up your ass." Team Mom. I'm all about it.
