Living With Boys

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Basketball Woes

Four games this week. Four losses. Lots of tears. This time it was the boys and not me. I have given up on believing we can win so I surprisingly sit quietly and watch the game like any normal parent. I still fail to find the humor, though, in eight year olds who shoot on the wrong goal or walk with the ball down the court. The other parents laugh and say, "Oh, Lordy Be! How cute is that?" I swear under my breath and put my head between my legs so that I don't hyperventilate.

I will try to concentrate on the positive, though. Evan had six three pointers this week, and he scored 16 of his team's 18 points in Wednesday night's game. He did not foul out, or if he did, the score keeper took pity on us since we were losing by 20 points.

Keagan scored six points in Tuesday's game, and he scored all five points in Thursday night's game. I was asked by another parent in the stands how many basketball camps the boys had attended, and I said none. She then asked who taught them how to play basketball, and before I could give an honest answer, Keagan piped in, "My mom was a star basketball player and played for the A team when she was in school." The other mom looked at me with doubt written all over her face, and when I saw the that-can't-be-so look on her face, I ran with the story. Never mind I played for my junior high team, spent some time on the bench because I wasn't fast enough, and won only one game the entire season. I WAS THE STAR, according to Keagan anyway.

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Mental Toughness

Keagan's first game was Thursday. I'll give you one guess as to what Keagan was doing instead of mentally preparing for the game.

Watching the cheerleaders, of course, but I guess the picture proves he wasn't the only one. The team might lack mental toughness.

However, when you are so fast, you leave the other players in a blur during a fast break, I guess you don't need a lot of mental preparation.

The Mavericks won their first game fairly easily, but next week's game against the Bulls leaves me nervous. If it is a close game or if the game comes down to a buzzer beater, I might just get a little wild. I have promised to make sure that guy to my right is Evan so that my celebratory kiss is at least planted on a family member.

Monday, January 7, 2013

The King's Fast Boy

Evan's first basketball game was tonight. I have commented once or twice that we can assume to win no games since we have no African Americans on the team, our star player is Evan who has only played basketball for one season, and we have three boys that have never dribbled a basketball before. The mantra White Boys Can Jump could not be further from the truth, or at least in the case of this season's U-11 Kings.

I should have known we were in for trouble when Evan took out his Youth Sports issued shorts and asked, "Why do my shorts say Fast Boy, Mama?" I had to reply, "That's East Bay, Baby. The brand name of the shorts." Seriously. He is so smart, it hurts, and yet the team relies upon him, the boy who believed his shorts had been monogrammed, for a win. Unfortunately, he had to sit on the bench the last quarter because he fouled out. That happens when you tackle as you rebound or slide tackle as you run down the court.

After the game, Evan walked into the house and said, "I really wanted to write about my first bball win and put it in the 2013 In a Jar, but I can't really celebrate a loss and five fouls now can I?"

We still have seven more games in the season. I foresee many more losses. At least I don't have to worry with close games, buzzer beaters, and celebrations that include kissing the strange soldier sitting next to me in the stands. Not that this would have ever happened to me, the-mom-who-must-win-at-all-costs. No. Not me.

Saturday, January 5, 2013

The Real World

We tried our best to escape the real world as much as possible in the last two weeks. Then today the first soccer friendly was announced, the first tournament was written on the calendar, the media festival project ideas were finally agreed upon, my spring semester class begins Wednesday, the car needs serviced, and science fair projects still need to be done. Don't forget basketball; the first game is on Monday, our first full day back home.

I will remember our walks on the beach, bike rides through the neighborhood, and our cruise with the dolphins with special fondness.

Be nice to us, Real World, as we reacquaint ourselves with you.

Friday, January 4, 2013

Salt Water Marshes

When we first moved to the South, I didn't understand the beauty that the locals found with the salt water marshes. It just seemed like mud and grass to me. I have since learned to appreciate the mud and grass a little more... that is as long as the smell of the marsh remains undetected. Otherwise, I avoid it at all costs.

Today we toured a salt marsh, an odor free salt marsh. It was low tide and the boys were able to find crabs, oysters, grass shrimp, and

periwinkle snails. Our guide told us that the vibrations of our voices would entice the snails out of their shells. So we sang Happy Birthday to the snails with them next to our voices boxes. It actually worked!

The boys thought my idea of touring the salt water marsh earned me a Mom of the Year award. I fully recognize that these days are numbered so I cherished today's smiles and adoration.

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

The Beach

We are spending the last few days of vacation at one of the most beautiful places in the Low Country, Hilton Head. I saw the sand and sea and became so giddy with excitement that I began to run to the beach. This speaks volumes because running hasn't been a part of my vocabulary since before the deployment.