As a parent, life brings you many twists & turns! When you first hold your baby, all these thoughts run through your mind and then you start planning their future. He's going to be a football star, a baseball star, and will certainly break school records while being it. Yeah, all these great accomplishments fill your head and you watch and wait while they grow and eventually at 4-5 years old, it's game time. So, the permission slips get filled out, the gear gets bought, and off to practice they go to start the sports journey that will be a part of their life from that point forward.
At our house, football is the sport! My husband played and we absolutely love watching the Ohio State Buckeyes every fall Saturday. So, I mean obviously our boys would be a permanent fixture on the football field. Absolutely! Seriously, how could we not have football players in the house? We were destined to have them. It was all part of the plan! However, when we found out Colin was on the Autism spectrum we knew his route with sports, would take a different course, but still be a fun one. Ethan, he was going to be the one, he was a big boy and possibly could be the center on the team...just like daddy! Oh boy, Brenton had high hopes of that and then came the days of flag football with him coaching. He LOVED those days! He would spend the week with a couple practices, making up plays that the boys could use, and then come Saturday he was pumped to take on the opponent. It was all going according to plan, but then came the twist!
One night, Ethan and I were on the front porch swinging, he was in 3rd grade, and during our conversation he confessed that he "didn't want to upset daddy, but he didn't want to play football anymore." Wait, what did he just say? Oh my, I was shocked and couldn't believe what I was hearing, because I thought he loved the game. My mind was racing! I wasn't sure what Brenton was going to say, but I didn't want to be those parents that force the sport on him all in the name of popularity either. So, I was at a crossroads and after our conversation, he went inside and I just sat there looking at the night sky talking to God.
The next few days were filled with thoughts on letting my husband in on Ethan's little secret, but honestly, I was having a hard time with it. I just wasn't sure how to approach it. I mean my goodness, my husband, all he talked about, after knowing he was having 2 boys, was one day watching them on the Ohio State football field and having seats at the 50 yard line. Oh jeez, what is he going to think? Well, that dream was about to be shattered, because he was coming home in a matter of hours and I had to get this off my chest!
It's funny how God allows things to happen, because what I thought was going to be this awful moment, turned out to be a moment that helped our family grow in a positive way. There was no yelling or screaming, but simply a conversation with our son that allowed us to hear "his" likes and wants for his own life. Yes, even at 9 years old, we allowed him to have a voice and allowed him to take "his" own direction on this path. That night, we learned he liked the game of football, however, just wanted to be "daddy's football watching buddy" and not "his player on the team." We also learned that he found a love for the game of golf, while being at the course with his dad over the years, and that's what he wanted to pursue.
Well, that conversation started a journey for my 2 big guys that has been exciting to watch. Brenton, listened and embraced Ethan's choice and though the path was not what he thought we would be walking down; however, this new path was pretty great too. Brenton enjoys the game of golf and now his son, would be a member of the golf team one day and that was a pretty great feeling. And, one that Brenton started getting him prepared for that following spring. New clubs were bought and lessons began!
Now, that "one" day, is among us with Ethan starting his 7th grade golf journey this week. We had a little hiccup with his start date, but we got it all situated and on Monday, he was out with his team on the course having his 1st practice. When I dropped him off, it was a bittersweet moment, watching him walk off to the putting green and realizing that the moment I've been thinking about for years is happening right now! He found his buddy and the first ball was on the green rolling towards the hole, while I was walking back to the car trying to keep my composure. LOL! It's such a weird feeling watching your kids grow up and knowing that time is not on your side, because you have to let go a bit and let them approach life on their own. However, that pill, is a little hard to swallow, yet one you know you have to take with a full glass of water to get it down. I'm embracing it, truly I am, and I do enjoy the simplicity each year brings as the boys are growing up, but it still just pulls at the heart strings no matter how hard I try to prepare myself. UGH!
This fall, is going to be a fun season watching our boy smash a golf ball down the fairway trying his best to get it in the hole under par. However, regardless of how the season goes for him, we will be right there smiling from ear to ear knowing he's doing exactly what he wants to be doing!
Good luck Ethan....go out there and do the very best you can son, however, remember to always have fun while doing it. Daddy, Colin and I love you very much!
First Practice Pics
Meet the Team
First Match
