I try very hard to encourage my children to explore different things. Whether it is singing in a choir, signing up to be a part of a group that reads to younger students or joining a team, I am all for it. I love when they try something new or different and discover something about themselves. That is why this next conversation is particularly heart warming to me.
Conversation between me and Boy # 2:
Boy#2 : “Guess what Mom? I am going to try out to be a part of the Black History Bee at school! I have all sorts of facts to study about famous black people and what they contributed.”
ME: “Good for you! I am proud of you! I would be happy to help you study! It will be fun! Way to go! That’s what straight A students do! They learn and learn and learn! That is also what kids do that want to go to UW Madison!” (see * below)
Boy#2: “Yeah, Madison is pretty much why I signed up. That is basically the main reason.”
ME: “Really? Well, what is the other reason?”
Boy #2 “Mohammed Ali.”
God, I love that kid! He is quirky and funny and inquisitive. He is perfect! And he is mine!
* When my boy was about 4 years old, we went to Madison for the weekend. We walked around the Capital, we went to the Farmers Market and we went to a UW Madison hockey game. He fell in love with Bucky Badger and from that day on, UW Madison has been his college of choice. Now, he is only 10 years old, and we DO NOT push him in any particular direction, but we have stressed to him that in order to get accepted into UW Madison, you need to have really good grades. We have also stressed that it is important to keep involved with extra curricular activities. Whatever it takes…
see, now I actually have a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye–for real—I’m really proud of him too! I just don’t hear about all the really good kids anymore–and he’s incredible!!
Wow–even at 17 I didn’t know where I wanted to go to college, so my parents just told me to go to UW-W, to get away, but not be too far–so that’s the only place I applied.
Your guys are so full of life and enthusiasm!!!!
I love you, Sherry!!!!!!