My boy is entering his senior year in High school in just a few days. Yesterday evening I watched as his football team scrimmaged. I sat alone in the stands and considered how my little boy has grown into a young man of great heart and stature. He really is a unique kid, of whom I could not be more proud.
The lens with which I see his life is unique in its own right. Coming from the view of the “non-custodial” parent I see plenty but know far less. The disadvantages associated with not being in on the day to day (let alone the week to week) are many but it does still provide a view of the game, however obstructed.
He is at the pinnacle of his high school career right now. He is one of the big men on campus and got there not through some false entitlement, like so many kids in this short season of life, but because he has earned it. He’s made great friends in peers and teachers alike, some of them he may never see again once he moves forward to college.
The community he’s grown up in has embraced him as their own. I’m grateful for this as they see him far more often than I do and many of them are fine influences. He’s grown into the kid that all the parents trust to do the right thing.
He’s considering going to college to be a teacher. We happen to think this would be a perfect fit for him. He has an amazing way with children. I believe he feels like he owes kids something, that some of his story can help them get through some of the tough stuff he’s dealt with. Not that his life has been particularly harrowing ,though there have been moments, but when one is “coming of age” I think most things feel pretty harrowing.
So, as he begins a season of lasts, while preparing for a season of firsts, he appears to be doing so from a pretty solid foundation.
Go get ‘em kid.
A couple of things:
1 – High school? he looks like a dude in his mid 20s
2 – He is the spitting image of you!
3 – Lovely post to mark a special period.
xbox4nappyrashs last blog post..The black humerus
1. I know. Kills me.
2. He would cringe to read that! Ha
3. You are every kind Sir. Thanks.
That was an encouraging post for dad who understands what it’s like to be the non-custodial father of sons. Thanks for sharing, man.
CK Lunchboxs last blog post..Guest Post at Discovering Dad!
Thanks CK. It was my pleasure. I’m glad you found it encouraging.
Great, great, great post Chuck. I felt like I was right there in the stands with you, only my girl was on the sidelines cheering your boy on. It is really hard not getting to see them grow into young men and women on a daily basis, but the pride we feel is amplified by the periods of absence. It’s hard for me not to get slightly overwhelmed with emotion when I see my oldest doing things good and right, and I am extremely proud of her in a way that you captured with poignant familiarity. Thanks for sharing these moments man. We’re pretty lucky, and so are our kids. You’re a great dad man!
Jeremy (Discovering Dad)s last blog post..How Superman Made Me a Better Father
We are lucky Jeremy. Thanks for the kind words!
Thats terrific, man. My daughter is too young, but I worry constantly about how she will turn out. Hearing your story helps balance out all the horror stories you hear on the news and elsewhere, and makes me believe that she actually does have a shot at becoming a kick-ass adult.
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Thanks Matt. It’s so easy to worry. I know, I do it plenty. The good stuff is all over the place though.
Okay for the sake of not sounded to much like a mushy mom, this post was a beautiful dedication to your son. I sat here reading and thinking of my own son who is only two and half and knowing how fast that time has gone. I can’t imagine when Logan is a young man and I will be sitting here wondering where the time went. So glad your son has turned out so great and that you are a proud papa.
Thanks wblmom – It is amazing to cnsider how quickly the time passes. My personal reminders to slow down don’t come occur enough.
I’m Logan will make you just as proud.
I was going to add and forgot, great pics and yes your son does look quite a bit older and a lot like the pictures I have seen of you.
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I can not imagine not being a part of my child’s daily life. It must be doubly hard when he’s a good kid. You’ve done a fine job, Chuck. Excellent post!
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The season of last begins the season of firsts – that really does describe it doesn’t it. I still see the little boy on the rocking horse or the little boy riding the carausel in the mall on a visit to see me when I look at him. Each time I return home for a visit, I am extremely caught off guard on how much of a man he is becoming. Last time I thought I was hugging a tree trunk!!!! I am proud of how much he has begun and I think that says alot about all those who had a hand in shaping and molding who he is today!!! I think he turned out pretty well!!! We really gotta do something about those sideburns though!!!!!
Spening so little time around them as they grow up is indeed hard. Imagine, however that you find out after they turn 18 (19 in my case) that you have a child in which you never knew about? Not only do you get to “wonder” what all of the moments you mention here might have been like, but you wonder just what type of person they are now, and might become. I’ve been somewhat fortunate in that I am able to communicate with her whenever I want, but not really able to see/spend time as we are geographically separated. All in all, though, I am glad that I know and have a life time to learn. Hope I can do as good a job as you do Chuck in describing my relationship with her at some point.
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Thanks for the comment. You know, I try real hard not to take for granted what I have and while I know my situation is not always ideal there are many many others that are in for more difficult positions. Yours would be one of them. Thank you for sharing.