X Ran Where?

image found here (that's our 2009 school team on the right)

I was running one kid here and another there last week when I got an excited phone call from my 14  year old son whose 9th grade football carpool had just dropped him off.  That doesn't happen very often-the excited phone call I mean, not the carpool, that happens a lot. In fact it almost never happens! Those of you with 14 year old boys should understand what I'm saying.  Normal calls from him include such phrases as "I'm hungry and we're out of _____"  "Can I go to ____'s house?" or "I need a ____ for my English/Science/Spanish project" not  "When will you be home?  I have something important to tell you!"  I could just hear the grin in his voice, and it made me smile.  I quickly dropped off, and picked up, and zipped back home.  Hadn't even taken the keys out of the ignition when the door to the house popped open, and out came said 14 year old boy's head, grinning madly.  Words began spilling forth, and I quickly realized we had a problem.  I only understood every 3rd or 4th word...as I later told my husband it involved a lot of random letters, some numbers, and lots of references to plays, runs, the ball, and their coach - as in "there are only 4 Z's" "Y runs the...Coach...run...football...awesome...X...the line...!!!"  Well, you get the idea.  The same spiel was later repeated to his Dad, and appropriate unintelligible footballese was spoken in response, which I think fulfilled his need for like minded approval, praise and understanding.

I don't speak footballese, but I do speak the language of my 14 year old, Quinn, and the message was clear.  Something (involving the football team, him, and that day's practice) had happened, and he was ecstatic about it.  I understood enough to praise and hug and be thrilled for him, and that's what really matters.  I may not understand the letters, the numbers, or all the terms-yet- but I sure do love that boy.  And I think that's what mattered to him in that moment.

He is enigmatic, as I think all 14 year olds are meant to be.  Still discovering who they are, questioning their world, their parent's world, and their place in it all, you can never quite be sure where you will find their state of mind.  14 is a balancing time between being a child and knowing who you are, or will become as an adult.  Stretching out for independence, and looking back to see if Mom and Dad are there and ready to steady them.  It's a precarious time, that line is thin, and the wind blows hard against them.

image found here

It's amazing to me to watch as my children grow and develop their own sense of who they are and what they believe.  I'm thankful to be a part of their lives, and having the opportunity to help shape another person is a beautiful gift, as well as a tremendous responsibility.  I'm learning from them as-I hope-they learn from me.  Years ago when I imagined motherhood I dreamt of babies with their sweet smells and soft coos, I pictured making cookies and building forts, practicing ABC's and 123's, but I didn't think much beyond those years. I didn't dream of the day they would drive off on their own, or question the answers I give them, or make their own choices as I stood on the sidelines watching, and praying for them.

But, I'm learning this part of motherhood is pretty wonderful in its own way, it's fun to have real conversations about life and politics and religion with my kids.  It's good to see them choose good people for friends.  It's really fun to play games that don't involve chutes, ladders, or candy monsters.  And it's especially wonderful when their eyes light up and they can't wait to tell me the really awesome thing that happened at football practice that day.  Yea, I like this stage of motherhood just fine!