Parenting Realized

One of the biggest parts of my life that's been missed in the Great Non-Bloggening, and indeed part of the reason for non-blogging, is parenting three fascinating children - Tai Lin, Kayah and Jonas. Three amazing people, each with something marvellous to offer the world and endless potential. 

So, a real pain in the ass.

I can't say that I've really taken to parenting. I take it seriously and do my best to give them everything they need but were I to make the choice with today's knowledge - I dunno. I know I've never achieved the kind of "parenting is so special" feelings that my mom and others push on me. It's been a lot of hard work with very few benefits coming back my way. 

But this past Friday was different. 

Over the past year and a bit, Jonas has taken to football. He plays constantly in the schoolyard with his friends and has even broken his nose a few times going for a pass. So when he approached us begging to play tackle football in the Regina Minor Football league, who was I to say no? 

We got him signed up and started in. He was assigned to the Peewee Vikings, a fortuitous team assignment since the Minnesota Vikings are the favourite team of Jonas's papacy-pursuing grandpa. As things got rolling for the team, a call went out for volunteers to coach and manage. I have no experience coaching and some recent health issues mean that I might not have the mobility needed to coach so I put my hand up to manage. 

Not my smartest move. 

Managing has been a bigger challenge than I ever expected. Since none of my kids have done sports at this level, there's a lot that I didn't know about the culture and way of things. I'm learning but it's been a very steep curve and a lot of work. Add to that the fact that the person who was going to co-manage and mentor me a bit has been absent and largely an issue herself and - it's been frustrating. 

But boy when those kids get out on the field to play. After two games, the team is not only undefeated but they haven't let their opposing teams score a single point. All thanks to Jonas's impenetrable defensive line! 

The game this last Friday was extra exciting. Not only did they produce a 50-0 finish, but Jonas made his first big play this weekend with a fantastic interception. To celebrate, we went out for wings at Jonas's request. I was advised that the phrase was "winner, winner, chicken dinner." Who am I to argue.

Watching Jonas take so strongly to something, enjoy himself deeply and just excel at it has given me a taste of that satisfaction in parenting. Friday night might have been one of the happiest evenings I've had in a while, just celebrating his victories and feeling like my efforts have been for the right cause. 

And there's a lot more to it than the victories. Getting the chance to talk with Jonas on the drive to practice, sharing new stories, watching him face discipline and adversity and pushing through and just generally watching him grow and come out of his shell. It's very satisfying. 

And of course, it's given me the chance to enjoy Jonas's fantastic humour. He's always been funny, from a little baby, this kid knew how to laugh and make people laugh. Every time he's been in deep trouble, it's been a joke he took too far. 

After his first game, I noted to him that the first play off the game was on the 44-yard line, the final score was 44-0 and his jersey number is 44. How did he reply?

"Woah. I'm the main character."

Main character indeed. I better not tell him he caught that interception on the 44-yard line.