A Tribute to Senior Parents

[RogueWarrior1965]

Well, it is week 10 and about the time of year that stories like this begin to circulate. I cannot claim authorship of this but whoever did did a nice job. I am sure those of you who are Senior Parents can relate to it. Simply insert the appropriate numbers, names, etc. in the blanks.

I Turned Around Today

I turned around today once the shadow came over me.

I found a ___ foot ___inch man towering behind me. He told me he was getting ready to go to football practice. I am guessing he is about a ham sandwich away from ___ pounds in a size ___pair of jeans. ‘Tall and strong as an oak’ as my father would say. All I could think was, is this my boy?

I turned around at the hospital some 18 years ago and saw him for the first time. The nurses named him ‘Moose’. It is one of many names he will collect over the years...the best one I can think of is ‘Son’.

I turned around to get him out of the car and off to his first day of school. At the time, I did not realize that it was a start of a journey for him and me. He was taught right and wrong at home and everything else at school. He did well, just short of a __GPA. I too was just short of a ___ GPA…until the second day of school. Thank-you (insert Mother’s name)______…thank-you to all his teachers everywhere.

I turned around to find a young 8-year-old boy upset that he is always picked last to be on a team and has a problem with chewing gum and walking at the same time. I told him to wait a year or two and everyone would want him on their team. It is tough for a small boy to understand the concept of time but over time, I guess I was right.

I turned around and found a 6th grader strapping on his football pads getting ready for his first game. It took awhile for him to understand that he did not have to apologize and help up the kid he just knocked down on the field. That first year of football, he learned the fundamentals of the game while I learned how to stay warm on those cold, wet and windy game days. Thank-you Coach _________ and to all the coaches who took time to teach the fundamentals of the game to all the kids.

I turned around and gave him the keys to the car to go and workout at 6 a.m. this past couple of summers with the high school football team. He learned the complexity of the game, the meaning of ‘team’ and the maturity to win or lose with honor. I learned to enjoy the warmth of the bed for an extra hour or two. Thank-you with deep gratitude to Coach ________ and the coaching staff for coming into his life and taking your time to teach him, along with the other men on the team, about honor, dignity and loyalty both on and off the field.

I will climb the stadium steps this coming Friday one last time and turn around to watch him run out onto field and play his last home game. I will sit next to my best buddy in life (a.k.a. wife, husband) and be in awe of the man who wears a high school football uniform. We will watch and cheer loud. He of course will hear us and not acknowledge us. He will play his best and in the end perhaps he will walk off the field barefooted. For he once told me he would leave his shoes on the field by the 50 yard line at his last football game. The gesture would show to everyone that he left it all on the football field he grew up on.

Little does he know that he left his shoes by my heart a long, long time ago.

[RogueWarrior]

Nice story. I know many a parent can see this as themselves and their son(s).

[RogueWarrior1965]

ttt

[RogueWarrior1965]

bump

[dazed&confused]

I am reminded of the phrase, "This too, shall pass." Google it.

[West Cobra1]

Well, it is week 10 and about the time of year that stories like this begin to circulate. I cannot claim authorship of this but whoever did did a nice job. I am sure those of you who are Senior Parents can relate to it. Simply insert the appropriate numbers, names, etc. in the blanks.

I Turned Around Today

I turned around today once the shadow came over me.

I found a ___ foot ___inch man towering behind me. He told me he was getting ready to go to football practice. I am guessing he is about a ham sandwich away from ___ pounds in a size ___pair of jeans. ‘Tall and strong as an oak’ as my father would say. All I could think was, is this my boy?

I turned around at the hospital some 18 years ago and saw him for the first time. The nurses named him ‘Moose’. It is one of many names he will collect over the years...the best one I can think of is ‘Son’.

I turned around to get him out of the car and off to his first day of school. At the time, I did not realize that it was a start of a journey for him and me. He was taught right and wrong at home and everything else at school. He did well, just short of a __GPA. I too was just short of a ___ GPA…until the second day of school. Thank-you (insert Mother’s name)______…thank-you to all his teachers everywhere.

I turned around to find a young 8-year-old boy upset that he is always picked last to be on a team and has a problem with chewing gum and walking at the same time. I told him to wait a year or two and everyone would want him on their team. It is tough for a small boy to understand the concept of time but over time, I guess I was right.

I turned around and found a 6th grader strapping on his football pads getting ready for his first game. It took awhile for him to understand that he did not have to apologize and help up the kid he just knocked down on the field. That first year of football, he learned the fundamentals of the game while I learned how to stay warm on those cold, wet and windy game days. Thank-you Coach _________ and to all the coaches who took time to teach the fundamentals of the game to all the kids.

I turned around and gave him the keys to the car to go and workout at 6 a.m. this past couple of summers with the high school football team. He learned the complexity of the game, the meaning of ‘team’ and the maturity to win or lose with honor. I learned to enjoy the warmth of the bed for an extra hour or two. Thank-you with deep gratitude to Coach ________ and the coaching staff for coming into his life and taking your time to teach him, along with the other men on the team, about honor, dignity and loyalty both on and off the field.

I will climb the stadium steps this coming Friday one last time and turn around to watch him run out onto field and play his last home game. I will sit next to my best buddy in life (a.k.a. wife, husband) and be in awe of the man who wears a high school football uniform. We will watch and cheer loud. He of course will hear us and not acknowledge us. He will play his best and in the end perhaps he will walk off the field barefooted. For he once told me he would leave his shoes on the field by the 50 yard line at his last football game. The gesture would show to everyone that he left it all on the football field he grew up on.

Little does he know that he left his shoes by my heart a long, long time ago.

Thanks for sharing this story, it is all true. I know, because I'm a Senior Mom. I put his pads in his pants last week, just because it has been a while since he finally learned to put them in himself. But these last couple of weeks-- well I just put them in myself, just because. Thanks again!

[tigermama]

That is very nice, it sure will bring a tear to your eye. My son has one more year left and I already tear up thinking about it.

[tigerdad]

That is very nice, it sure will bring a tear to your eye. My son has one more year left and I already tear up thinking about it.

Right there with ya, 1 more year left and it's our turn to walk across the field