Chad's Decision - Part Deux

Well, doesn't this always happen? Just when you've resigned yourself to something, made peace with it and adjusted, it changes?? Yep - that's what happened yesterday. I picked up Chad after school and he gets in the car and says "When can we get me a new mit?" (He needs a new catchers glove) I was confused - he noticed, so he explained that he had talked to the athletic manager and she told him that he could practice with the team while he was working on his french grade and then in 3 weeks (When games started) if he had passed the class, he could play baseball. She also told him that when she taught school, she taught math and would be more than happy to tutor him if he needed help! OH HAPPY DAY!! My son made me cry right there in the school parking lot. He called Jeni and told her the good news and I heard her squeal with delight! Jeff is so happy, too - Chad says he knows when his dad's excited about something because he starts talking fast. Hehe - true, he does.
Not only am I happy he's playing baseball, but I'm happy that he's got a fire inside him now. He's got a goal - something to work towards. He's pumped up! So are we. Bleachers here we come!!
Life with a teenage boy is never boring, that's for sure.

Chad's Decision

Jeni watching baseball

Man, he's getting so tall!

And so handsome!!


He's a great catcher!

Chad has played baseball since he was 5 years old. Every single spring our family is at the baseball park watching him play and cheering him on. He caught on to baseball immediately. In Tee Ball when the other kids were dorking around and chasing each other in the dug out and sitting in the outfield picking flowers - he's in the game. All his concentration and attention are focused on the game. He stands and cheers his teammates from the dug out, he knows when it's his turn to bat - no one has to tell him to get on deck, he knows the score at all times. He's a quintessential team player. He's very competitive, and always wants to BE the best - but he's just as happy when his teammates shine. I love that about him.

Well, as I said in an earlier post, he's struggling in school for the first time in his life. English and French were kicking his butt. He was trying, but it just wasn't enough. He didn't pass English - but French is another story. At this writing his french teacher - Mrs. Bazanele - is still working with him to get enough points to at least pass the class. He appreciates that and so do we. However, Chad has made the very hard decision to sit out baseball this season. I know he's struggled with this - he LOVES baseball. Jeff and I are devastated. His sister, Jeni and her husband Dan, are devastated. There are not words to describe how much we look forward to him playing baseball - it's just the best. But as he told me when he was explaining his decision to me - "Mom, I was sick to my stomach when I saw those grades on my report card. I don't EVER want to feel that way again about grades. I need to get my grade point average back up to where it should and could be." Wow - I can't argue with that. He's right - and I am SO intensely proud of him for caring that much about school and his future.

Still, it leaves me wondering - What in the world am I going to do this spring without baseball??

Who's the Grandma of an 11 year old?? Not me!!

Nope, no way. I cannot be the grandma of an 11 year old - yes, I said an E L E V E N year old! I think it was yesterday that I was waiting patiently at the hospital for my daughter to give birth. It was such a weird set of emotions taking place in me that day. Excitement (I LOVE babies), worry (can Jeni DO this?), happiness (Like I said, I LOVE babies), concern (have I taught Jeni enough that she'll be a good mother?), frustration (where are those nurses with the ice chips??), sadness (she was only 16). Ryleigh Lyn entered the world on February 23, 1998 at 6:36pm. She was beautiful from the beginning. The most perfect little baby. I was hooked!

Through the years Ryleigh and I have formed this wonderful little bond. We get each other. She thinks I'm the best there is and I feel the exact same about her. I am so proud of her and the young lady that she is and will be. Our family was so blessed to have her come into our lives at the exact moment that she did. So, Happy Birthday Bug! I love you so much!!

Oh and by the way - Jeni can do this, I did teach her enough to be a good mother and I love her so much, too. Proud doesn't begin to cover it.

Keep your fingers crossed...

So we have someone coming to look at the house in the morning (February 23). I've been cleaning and straightening and organizing and fussing until I just don't think I can do much more. It's just a crap shoot really. It's a waiting game, this selling your house business sucks. It all ties into the limbo thing - waiting, being patient. Not my strong points - that's probably why I'm experiencing them all right now. Someone knows I need more practice. So, I'll be patient, I'll wait - but all the while - I'll have my fingers crossed. A little good luck never hurt anyone, right?

Limbo

The word Limbo conjures up a couple of thoughts. One is the fun game played by really flexible people where you try to see "how low you can go" under a pole held by two people. Each time you are successful at bending backwards and passing under the pole without touching it, the pole goes down a notch and you try again. I've only played a couple of times and I admit, I'm not very good.
The other Limbo is where we are right now. Waiting, hoping, praying for our house to sell so that we can go on to a new phase of life. Limbo. Jeff's been working in Arizona for about 6 weeks. We're not sure if he should come back up this week and stay until the house sells, stay in Arizona and try to secure more clients or find a full time job. Limbo. Chad's trying to decide what to do about baseball. If he doesn't pass his french class, which he'll find out about Monday, then he won't need to even worry about what to do. But, if he does, the season here starts Monday. Should he start playing with these guys and hope that we can stay long enough to finish out the season? Limbo. Like I said, I'm really not very good at Limbo.