i want to punch that kid in the nose.

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"But Mom, I could be your meal ticket."

Kainon needs a personal assistant. Anyone interested?

Let me say that I love my boy. He is an overachiever to say the least. He is a freshman in high school this year. So far, he has earned a starting position on the varsity football team. He is a first chair double bass player in the orchestra. He is an A student. He is a class representative for student council. He is a member of the Water Conservation Club and I'm sure he is in some other activities that I don't have written down in my calendar.

I was worried at first when he would eat, sleep and breathe preparing for the life of a college student athlete. He spent his summer biking to weights, working out, football camp, shooting hoops at open gym, biking home and going to basketball practice. In between those activities he would be reading classic literature to prepare for college. He would sit in our chair and stress about not knowing what type of scholarships he would earn in four years. I was tempted to check him for ulcers. "Kainon, go play with your friends. RELAX!" He now fits friends and dances into the equation too.

I'm proud of him, I am. However, for every activity there is a practice, a game, a performance, a meeting, a field trip slip, a packed lunch, a fundraiser.... you get my drift. Did I mention he is not old enough to drive himself to 6:45am practice?!?

I'm not complaining. I'm proud that he is so driven and involved. I like that he is so active and works hard for his successes. He is just a lot to keep up with.

ahhh...... I hope he remembers us in his acceptance speech someday.

you'll shoot your eye out!

Kainon is a VERY good kid. He doesn't give me much grief, other than the big ego thing from time to time. He likes to please his mom.

However, this kid suffered a bout of stupidity last week.

(Insert flashback here to last week where I tell Kainon and his friends that under NO circumstances should they shoot their airsoft guns in my house and if I find evidence i will rip off their toenails.)

So I come home from work to see my angelic son hanging out watching ESPN.

Kainon: Mom, do you need a hug?

Yes, I knows this should have been my first clue that he was guilty for SOMETHING, but I savored the teen hug and went off to the daycare...

In the next hour I have this phone conversation:

Tylers grandfather: I wanted to let Kainon know that Tyler is going to be okay. Kainon was very worried about him.

Me: Oh no, what happened?!

TG: Um... you didn't know?

Me: No... (thinking oh crap!)

TG: Well, an airsoft pellet ricocheted and hit Tyler in the eye when the boys were playing at your house.......

(This is where I listen while shooting tazer eyes at my son, who knows that he is busted for not telling his mother what went down at the house.)

Current situation:

• Tyler is on the mend and did not lose vision. (after the three teen boys took him and his bleeding retina to the eye doctor)

• Tylers Grandfather was very understanding and said nice things about my son. (probably because he could tell by my tone that I was about to abuse my child)

• Kainon is grounded. Guns are gone. No phone was for the weekend. No friends for the week. And my personal favorite...he has been my personal maid. My ceiling fans are dusted, showers scrubbed, linen closet organized.

He had a lapse in judgement, but he has not complained once during his punishment.

"Thank you mother, can I have another (chore)?"

He will probably get off early for good behavior... after he cleans out the fridge.

Basketball part one

Setting: High school Gymnasium for traveling baskebtall team tournament.

Mom: Sitting in the back row of the bleachers away from the other parents because her spectating children take up a lot of space. *The real reason she sits away from the crowd is because she yells..LOUDly during the game and removes herself from others as a courtesy.

Dad: Sitting next to Mom receiving her constant elbow jabs when she is tense, excited or frustrated (usually with the one ball hog on our team who refuses to pass.) He is also pointing out anything amusing and delivering an accompanying witty comment.

Kainon: Playing ball. Is the team anchor as the biggest guy on the team. He is currently sporting a Paul Pierce headband and has a milk gallon plastic jug of water that he takes to every game.

Miah: In the bleachers with her bag of entertainment: stuffed animals, a word search and Chinese sandals.

Trinity: In the bleachers with her box of colors/papers making cheering signs. (Mom/Dad do not allow her to keep the posters saying which players she thinks are hot.)

Zeph: On the front row of the bleachers sitting alone. He is not in trouble. He is here because he is coaching from the sidelines and it was distracting his parents. Sideline instruction shouted from the 5 year old:

Lets hustle on defense!
Play strong. Play big!
Get it to the big guy!
You've got to move your feet!
Lets work together!
Straight up on defense! No fouls!

This would be adorable if not for the fact that he is usually right. Now its just... worrysome, impressive, and a sure sign of things to come.

where do we go from here?

Kainon "graduates" from junior high on Monday. Um... great?

In our school district this means:

1) slide show with baby pictures to now
2) photo presentation (which I apparently need to whip up by 3:30p tomorrow)
3) trip to amusement park

4) getting out of school 2.5 days before other grades
5) graduation breakfast
6) graduation awards assembly
7) graduation walk through
8) graduation "senior" pictures
9) graduation itself
10)graduation dance
11)ambulance resussitation from graduation overdose

I am glad for la-di-dahs now and then. I took pictures of Zephs preschool graduation a few weeks ago, so this probably makes me a hypocrite. 5 years olds are cute with tasseled hats on though. But as Kainon put it "Aren't you supposed to go to high school? What is the big deal?"

The principal had to put out a memo not allowing limosines this year. Really?!?! Girls get their hair/nails done and this is the first year tuxedos or formals are not allowed. Can you say OUT OF FRIGGIN HAND?!!?

I agree with celebrating accomplishments and milestones but legally with "no child left behind" and truancy laws the kids have to go to ninth grade anyway. What are we congratulating them for?

I thought maybe Kainon was just downplaying all of the hoopla because he knows I don't have fat bankroll (and because of my eyerolls). But I really think he is that down to earth. Yesterday he came home with a t-shirt adorned with freshly inked signatures. He explained it was his yearbook. I had offered to buy him one (they don't cost much) and he declined. He liked the wearable art instead. He would like to wear cargo shorts to the graduation (school rules say dress clothes).

He is good people. That is worth celebrating.

I celebrate that he has learned (well still needs a little practice) that its better to let people notice your skills and commend you, rather than you telling them how awesome you are.

I celebrate that he has learned how to be the dumper and the dumpee, yet still go to school the next day.

I celebrate that you are involved in many things (orchestra, sports, geography bee, water conservation club i don't know what that is) so that you don't get pigeonholed into one category.

I celebrate that you don't want to sit with me at school functions but you still give me a kiss *and I heard you tell your friends that your mom is cool.