Encouraging Words to Those Who May Have Some Morning Kid 'Tude

“No One Is Doing Anything To Help Me.”

Just a bit of relational encouragement to other moms out there that may have heard this before.  I happen to be lucky enough to hear it this morning from my teen before school.  I laughed, I was not mad—this time.  I really wanted to just verbally review the last 12 hours or so. 

I took you to Sonic after your late game last night when all I wanted to do is get home.

I washed and ironed your clothes for today.

I woke you up about 6 times this morning. (This really gets old, me being the repeat alarm clock after traditional ones don’t make people budge)

I made your lunch.

Oh and I made your breakfast and put it in the car for the ride to school.

I reminded you a few times to have your bags together for after school.

I opened the trunk so you could throw your things in there.

Not to mention the countless hours I spend in the car because you can’t drive.

I pray and pour out my heart to the Lord for my kids everyday—who else will pray for my children?

I did not review these points verbally.  So I am trying to encourage those who might find any of this sounding familiar.  It is easy to let ourselves get beat down.

You are not alone.

I feel you.

The best thing is to remind ourselves not to listen to negative talk.  Not really just the negative talk that comes out of the mouths of ‘certain people’ living under your roof, but negative self-talk.  Don’t listen to the lies and focus on the truth.  Lies like, “This kid will always be like this.”, or “Where did I go wrong?” have no place in our minds.

Philippians 1:6 says that God has begun a good work in your child—yes that one with a little bit of attitude.  This truth in Philippians also says He promises to finish what He starts.  So I have to remind myself of this…often.

He will finish what he starts, He can move mountains.  All WE need is a little bit of faith.

And lots of coffee.

Have a great day full of JOY,

Tracey

“You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.”  -Matthew 17:20

The Football

Football is coming to a close with the upcoming Superbowl game just days away.  I have had a long time to really think about this game and the beginnings of it.  The fundamentals of the game.  It really starts with kids.

All my life I have been around football.  Not that anyone played in my family growing up but we have always had a love for it.  In our house, we loved college football and the football fever was strong for the Alabama Crimson Tide. I enjoyed my high school football and it did not hurt that we were awesome during my years of school there. It is a great feeling when you have something to do with friends and a hundred fans all cheering for the same cause under Friday Night Lights.  Over the last year, I have seen football in a different light.

My son decided to take up tackle football in the 8^th grade.  He made the decision as a new 8^th grader at his school and after school had started.  I remember saying to him, “Boy, you are going to get your block knocked off!”  So he played and learned the ropes.  He was new to the team and new to tackle so he did not go in every play, but he seemed to enjoy this!  The boys were great and welcomed him on the team.  This 8^th grade team flourished and won almost every single game.

Fast forward to this past summer. My son, Honey Badger (what I like to call him as he has a very strong will…is there a stronger word than ‘strong’?), decided he was up for high school ball.  He went all July to work out, practice, and sweat in this Memphis heat for football.  There were scrimmages and two-a-days.  There was record-setting heat.  The practices were moved to early mornings and late nights.  It was a long, hot July.

Let me stop and tell you it ain’t no picnic for the Mommas.  Some mornings he had to BE there by 5:40 am.  It is still dark at 5:40 am. Forget two-a-days, I had six-a-days.  Back and forth I drove and picked up.  There were some nights they were done after 8:00, and then I had to feed this man-child because he was like a ravaged beast.  I think he ate five meals a day in July.  I had to keep up with that.  Then I will address the smells.  Stinky stench of uniforms and practice clothes could have originated in the elephant house at the zoo.  Something died in those clothes during practice.  It was so bad I wanted to bury them—daily.  But I did not.  I washed them every night in preparation for the next day.  It ain’t no picnic for the Mommas but I would do it 50 times over again.

There is something interesting that happens when you join a team at school.  This may be a marching band, a chess team, a school choir, or a sports team.  Whatever the group or team, the student is now a part of something larger than himself.  The student is a member and included in the camaraderie.  The student is accountable.  I see some sort of new pride in having things ready for practice.  What? Your bag is together?  I see someone prepare to leave for practice and enter the room saying, “Come on Mom, I’m ready to go.”  Who is this child?

Coach talking to my son after a play.

The Coach has more knowledge on food (taking care of your body), sleep and exercise than any parent can dream of attaining.  I think the Coach has some sort of magic coach’s whistle because I know we talked about junk food and exercise a few hundred times in this house.  My husband played all sorts of sports so we have had numerous helpful discussions on these subjects.  MY child goes to a summer practice and the Coach lectures the boys on food and exercise, then uses that ‘magic coach’s whistle’ and these boys believe it.  Maybe there is a rock tablet that has football rules inscribed on it called, “Coach Says”.  I think I need some “Coach Says” in this house.  The bedroom of Honey Badger has little positive things going for it.  Hey, Coach says to get the dog poop out of the yard and wash my car.

It’s been so insightful to ‘live’ on this side of the bench—as a parent.  You begin to know who all of the players are and you meet a lot of the other parents.  You ask a ton of questions to these other parents.  You feel a sense of loyalty to not only cheer for your kid but now these other kids by name.  You are emotional about other players, too!  One of the most touching sights is found after a game.  These big boys, sweaty and stacked up in full pads search to find their parents.  I have watched them reach to hug a mom or dad.  That is a beautiful sight and I am so glad I get to peek into their lives.

Senior players praying for a hurt brother after a game.

Football season is long over and I can fully look back at these last few months in the game of football.  Our team did not have a winning record.  But these boys never gave up.  The coaches were unbelievably strong and led by their faith in The Lord and their coaching wisdom.  They were building something and it did not always end with a win on the scoreboard.  They were building these boys into young men.  These players learned about perseverance, getting back up, integrity, and brotherhood.  They learned they must keep their focus on the straight path and they are already victorious.

This experience with football has given me a different view of team sports, but a higher respect for football.  These boys started preparing in June. For those months, my child experienced so much that I just can’t put a price tag on it.  It has amazed me even though my child was not on the field in many games.  The love of the game goes deep.  The love of the game grows much deeper than the grass it is played on.

My Boy.

It is not just the block or tackle or catch on solid ground.  Football is the relationship a player has with his team.  It is the strength it takes to encourage a brother.  It is the endurance of many to work and fight through the rough spots.  It is the grit and vigor to protect this common bond.  All of this comes together and forms the game into something amazing.

Yes, the love of the game goes much deeper.

I am not sure how long my son will play football.  I hope he will continue through high school.  I hope that love continues to grow.

With Joy,

Tracey

“The Lord is my strength and my shield. In Him my heart trusts.” – Psalm 28:7