Monday, October 09, 2006

DD Life 06

Weight
As a courtesy to IJ I am not going to post my weight as often but I will give you updates periodically.. I had a good weekend eating, working out.  I played hoops on Saturday morning.. I use the term play loosely.. And then spent an afternoon splitting and stacking wood.. It was a beautiful  day to just be outside.  No rules broken..

12 years
DD turned twelve on Saturday.  I can't tell you why that is such a significant number for me or him but it just is. I know we all have relationships with our kids and they are growing evolving and changing everyday but our relationship is not normal in that there are so many boundaries between he and I.  DD is not able to carry on long conversations let alone long sentences so it is difficult for him to tell me how he really feels but in the most unique ways he does better than anybody I have ever met.  For me to really connect with my kids I have to get them in their element and away from the rest of the family and stop being a Dad for a minute and relate to them as a person that is not going to correct or judge or change the way they feel. (With CD (nine year old)  this is an easy thing to do since he has his dads "gift" of just throwing it all out there and it couldn't be easier for a parent to talk to him since he is so open and honest and loves to communicate with adults.)  With D it is a simple game of playing catch in the front yard.. (He is usually the "Quarterbacker" in D's mind why would you have linebacker and not a quarterbacker.. He has a point) But to get to the point of this reflection.. I spent 10 years trying to be both ends of the communication and guess how he feels and finish sentences for him when he struggles and try to fill in and help when we where attempting a conversation. That was just to make me feel like I was having a conversation and not letting the true DD come out.. So now we go outside and talk about the twins score and who the Vikings are going to play next week and who the packers are going  to lose to.. And guess what everyone once in awhile he tells me how hard it is to grow up being him… And how he wishes that he could read better or run faster or have more friends at school. It hurts to hear it and quite frankly it is difficult to write it.. So you know how your kids tell you they love and they really mean it but sometimes they tell you something that they really feel and it hurts you but it brings you closer and helps you understand the person inside it makes all of this parenting stuff worth it.  I was pretty sick awhile back and was gutting it out at one of the practices for CD and DD wasn't feeling too well either so we where riding together home and I just didn't feel like talking or being a Dad for that matter. But with DD you seize any moment  that he is trying to get something across to you so he starts rubbing his shoulders like I do for him.. And he says something that I will never forget… Dad your not feeling good hunh.. Yeah D I am feeling pretty crappy… Dad I will always be there for you no matter what.   I have told DD since well since forever when he was down or upset about things that no matter what happens to you I will always be there for you.  As the tears welled in my eyes driving down the road I thought I would return the favor and tell him much I appreciated what he said.. DD in his own way got me back on the right track and asked me if the Twins where on tonight.. Enough I just can't tell you how much that kid has taught me I thought I would share it on his birthday .. 

Here is a cool updated on DD's football 
DD's two football coaches so completely get sports that gives us all hope.. DD's team was in the championship game on Saturday and they where ahead by a touchdown or two so in the last seconds the coach who has been calling plays for him to score touchdowns all year but DD is so afraid of getting crushed he pretty much freezes and the opposing kids rip off his flags runs over to the opposite of the field and talks to the other coach and officials that they would like everyone to take it easy for the last play they are going to give DD the ball.  Well the other team agrees to it and DD's team pitches the ball to DD and another kid grabs DD by the Jersey to get him to run and DD's runs the ball for 20-30 yds I couldn't see as you can imagine.. DD came off the field with his helmet smiling from ear to ear and the team.. He knows this will be his last year of football as a player but he can always tell everyone that he is a football player..   Yeah D you are…  as usual you get more out of life than anyone I know.  DD always likes to tell everyone how is Dad used to be a football player..  Now it is my turn to tell everyone my son DD is a football player..  Well as DD would tell me get back to the Vikes



Vikings
What a waste of time.. I will blog on this later.. When I have had a chance to come up some positives on this game.. The Defense was just great.. Pat Williams was the mvp last year and is again this year.. More on them later..

Twins
Thanks for the great season.. I hope every season regardless of sport can be as fun as you where to watch.. Not bitter for one minute about losing.. They will only get better..

BIG OUT