Sports, Laughs, and Love -- A year of a Teenage Boy

Last year at this time I could not believe that I had a child officially taller than me. This year I have a child about to be taller than his dad. But no matter his height, he’ll always be my baby.

What a year for B! He’s grown physically a ton. He continues to grow academically and remains on the honor roll. And athletically he had his best ever season of basketball, is starting a new season of baseball looking sharp, and is ready to start cross country in the fall…just like his mom.

B still holds the title of the person who makes me laugh the hardest—while simultaneously being the one most likely to make me want to pull my hair out (and probably the reason behind a few gray hairs, too). He walks that fine line between adoration and annoyance like a pro.

Here are a few highlights from the past year.

Related to sports…participating in them or observing, it was a busy year in sports for B.

This year he attended games for the Vikings, Twins, Wild, St. Paul Saints, and Gophers Football and Baseball. In attempting to get him to even MORE games this year, a Christmas gift he received was a summer baseball trip with his dad and some friends. This look says it all. <3

And his birthday gift this year is a Wild playoff game…lucky boy!

This past basketball season was his best ever. His team started 12 - 0 and after that they started playing up a level where they continued to have success. In the end they were 25-11 and got 1st place in 5 tournaments. B ended the season being 4th in blocked shots, 5th in tipped shots, and 1st in scoring. He started the season being chosen as one of the captains and ended the season being selected as a Rising Star. And the team was nominated as a Youth 1st Team by officials and tournament organizers for demonstrating outstanding sportsmanship and positive conduct. So from start to end, a great season.

I also loved the way B was so casual at times with the success he and his team were having. I couldn’t make it to one of the tournaments and I received this text from him letting me know what happened.

Baseball season last year was fun, too, it was his first year in traveling baseball since he aged out of Little League. I spent the season really missing LL because all games were within 5-10 minutes from our house. Verses the traveling league…where we traveled all over the cities. We’re starting on year two of travel baseball and we’re a little more prepared and excited to see B continue to develop his baseball skills. Here he is after he “claimed” to have hit a ball so hard it unraveled…his sister revealed the actual story later (spoiler: he did not break the ball from hitting it).

B attended a few Gopher Football games this year and during his first outing he added to the shoe tree on campus.

But out of all the games B attended this year I think he would agree that the most exciting game was when the Gophers beat USC. It was an unexpected win and we ran on the field after to celebrate. It was so fun to be in that environment and see how excited B was.

It was also fun to see him and Marc on TV during a Twins game…even though they lost.

Upon hearing that Ángel Hernández was retiring, B quietly sat down, shook his head, grinned ear to ear, and said, “This is the greatest day of my life.”

I sent a text message to B when I saw some “breaking news” about the hot dog eating competition that we had just been talking about. I was sending it in a sarcastic way but I love that he got my text and treated it as a request and was ON IT.

Some sweet moments…

In the midst of a day at MOA over spring break, I took them to Fly Over America and Fly Over Africa. He loved it so much that in the middle of it he kept leaning over to me and saying “Thank you so much, mom. Seriously. For real. Thank you for bringing us.”

And

Staying at my in-laws house while in town for a kids athletic event but the grandparents were out of town. B, talking to Grammy on the phone says, “Thank you so much for the use of your wonderful home.”

And

I started putting up some Christmas decorations on November 1st and B kept complaining that it was “not Christmas yet” and “too early.” However, soon thereafter he asked if he could help do some. The day I was going to do more, he had plans. So I asked if he minded if I just did it or if he really wanted to be a part of it. He said, “It’s ok if you want to do it, I just wanted to spend some time with you & help.”
So yeah, I waited.

Related to taking care of himself…

I noticed B taking more care in his physical self. Wanted some weights, downloading specific apps, taking strength and conditioning, asking questions about “eating healthy” and discovered he had a whole folder on his phone called “Important for body.” We’ve come a long way from the “I’ll eat anything and everything around me” phase.

And

B: I have to ask you something. It might seem weird…
Me: Ok…
B: It’s something I’ve noticed with other kids…
Me: <deep breath>
B: Can I have cologne?
Me: Oh! Wow. Ok! We can talk about this!
Me: <relief>
Me: Listen…if we’re taking cologne then we need to also be talking about deodorant. Can’t use cologne instead of deodorant.
B: I’ve been using deodorant
Me: Great! Ok, let’s talk to dad—
B: I found one. It’s on Amazon. It can be here tomorrow.
Me: Oh, no. That’s not how we pick a cologne. Let’s talk to your dad.

And

After deciding to shave for the first time.
Me: How long until he’ll have to shave again?
Marc: (starts to talk) —
B: I googled, it said 2-4 weeks.
So he’s now a shaving pro!

Some funny things…

B: Ugh I hate that place.
Me: Why?
B: it’s the place they told me I need glasses and I’ll never be the same.

Narrator: He was not told he needed glasses immediately. He was told he was on the borderline and may want to consider…but sure, B, it was a death sentence.

And

Grammy asked b to put some towels down their laundry shoot.
“Are you kidding me? I’ve been waiting my whole life to do this!”

And

Years ago my mom asked me to sell an old fur jacket that my grandma’s twin sister had after she passed away. I forgot (sorry mom!). Fast forward several years later and B, looking in the back of the closet, finds it. He takes it out and tries it on. After looking at himself in the mirror he says, “I look drippy.”

When we were without power for a day and a half, B had some advice and commentary.

I’d rather live without color than power.
NOTE: this was mere minutes after losing power.

When I was laminating my lack of hair drying tools with the power being out, B offered me advice, “Why don’t you just step outside.”

And funny in a funny way, sure, but also a little….concerning?

There was a bee in the house. It was pretty dead, just slowly walking along the top of the ceiling in the living room, not flying around. He was in a tough spot to kill so I was waiting for him to walk over to a clear space out of the corner.

In the midst of this, B says, “I saw a video of an easy way to kill a bee. You just pour gasoline on it.”

I quickly replied, “What?! No.” And I continued to watch the bee. Then he continued, “No seriously, it’s easy, hang on I’ll get the video.”

And I had to turn around and say, “Absolutely not! Pour gasoline over a bee in our house? Do you not see how bad of an idea that is???”

Fun in the sense is he 13 or 31:

“I’ll take an Arnold Palmer & can we get waters all around?”

Fun in realizing we were right:

After YEARS of listening to B complain every time we tried to watch an 80s or 90s moving, B finally says to us, out of the blue, “You say you have the best movies…and, yeah, you’re right.”

And then there was halloween when he decided to be…a teenage boy. The scariest thing of all!

And the sibling relationship I love…

Decided to have fun for a stretch and anytime I wanted a picture of them they CLOSED THEIR EYES.

And

At the park connected to the lot where we pick our Christmas tree each year there is a rock that they decided looked like the cliff from The Lion King. So they decided to act out a rather pivotal scene of the movie. I will not provide more details so as to avoid spoilers.

And

B went to most of E’s middle school tennis matches. At the end of each season he asked for an autographed ball. I discovered this year that he not only has he kept them, but he has them displayed on a shelf in his room.

I can’t believe that 14 years ago I held this baby in my arms and now I’m watching my son give full on presentations at school conferences that honestly could compete with some presentations I’ve seen adults give in the business world.

B likes to talk about his athletic and sporting accomplishments and while those are impressive, I’m equally impressed with his school performance. He has been on the honor roll each quarter he’s been in middle school. He works hard and his teachers always have the kindest things to say about his participation, his attitude, his helpfulness, and his respect.

B, keep doing what you are doing. We are so proud of you and cannot wait to see what the next year brings you. One more year of middle school and then you’ll join your sister at the high school…but I’m going to stop there because that is a bit too much to consider right now.

Oh! And I guess the band needs to stay together indefinitely because B has plans!

Mom of friend: So, do you go watch your dad’s band play a lot?
B: Not a lot because they play in bars so I can’t go. But when I turn 21 I’ll go ALL. THE. TIME.