Great read, man. Whatever else happened, you will always have that blind wraparound bounce pass!
Our boys are just getting into sport now - football and tennis - and I think you're right, this time around could be even tougher emotionally! I still vividly remember the crushing disappointment of failing to make the squad for my Sunday League team football team aged 11. Never get over it - ha.
I mean, how could anyone expect you to get over that! Tennis was one of my first sports along with baseball. I focused only on tennis later and dropped the more team-oriented ones. That turned out a bit better... despite my constant worrying about having to call lines and getting accused of cheating by players who were actively cheating.
Also: I’m so curious to hear more about your Walmart. Ours was also the social center of town- I went on many dates there in high school. It’s so romantic to take the person you’re wooing on a stroll down the home improvement aisle 😂.
I didn’t go on dates, of course (tall guy was spot on), but yes, that sounds very similar! It seemed huge and new and it had everything from a full grocery store to rakes and lawnmowers.
What’s crazy is I made my middle school team and my dad was the assistant principal. Now wondering if I didn’t earn that minute and a half per game of playing time!
Kids are cruel all too often. No matter if it is sports or band or robotics or drama. They are in a desperate battle for supremacy over each other. I'm sure Plato wrote about it. Hell, Cain killed his brother, so the Torah says.
Oh geez Andrew, you have my preemptive apologies. I have a post coming out in five minutes about nepotism but I promise you weren’t the inspiration! 🤣🤣
This has probably been my favorite post of yours, to date. I think the majority of us have a middle school basketball story of sorts. Don't you wish, as I do, that you were able to respond to the dude declaring you've never had much luck with the ladies with "Not what your mom said last night!" then run, and fast.
I also relive middle school fairly regularly and I have some real zingers ready!! Anyway, maybe tell them to your kid so he's ready to fire back at the front-loaders. IDK about you, but the mom jokes started early in our kid's community, for better or worse.
Great read, man. Whatever else happened, you will always have that blind wraparound bounce pass!
Our boys are just getting into sport now - football and tennis - and I think you're right, this time around could be even tougher emotionally! I still vividly remember the crushing disappointment of failing to make the squad for my Sunday League team football team aged 11. Never get over it - ha.
I mean, how could anyone expect you to get over that! Tennis was one of my first sports along with baseball. I focused only on tennis later and dropped the more team-oriented ones. That turned out a bit better... despite my constant worrying about having to call lines and getting accused of cheating by players who were actively cheating.
“Perhaps the key to surviving middle school is lacking that pathological need to be liked by everyone which has defined my existence on this earth?”
^yes! I do not understand people whose brains work this way but boy am I jealous.
100% agree
Also: I’m so curious to hear more about your Walmart. Ours was also the social center of town- I went on many dates there in high school. It’s so romantic to take the person you’re wooing on a stroll down the home improvement aisle 😂.
I didn’t go on dates, of course (tall guy was spot on), but yes, that sounds very similar! It seemed huge and new and it had everything from a full grocery store to rakes and lawnmowers.
What’s crazy is I made my middle school team and my dad was the assistant principal. Now wondering if I didn’t earn that minute and a half per game of playing time!
Huge, if true!
Kids are cruel all too often. No matter if it is sports or band or robotics or drama. They are in a desperate battle for supremacy over each other. I'm sure Plato wrote about it. Hell, Cain killed his brother, so the Torah says.
I love this middle school micro scandal. The very low stakes nepotism accusations. It’s good preparation for the real world.
Oh geez Andrew, you have my preemptive apologies. I have a post coming out in five minutes about nepotism but I promise you weren’t the inspiration! 🤣🤣
Haha, perfect timing! It’s not just football coaching it’s middle school basketball too!
This has probably been my favorite post of yours, to date. I think the majority of us have a middle school basketball story of sorts. Don't you wish, as I do, that you were able to respond to the dude declaring you've never had much luck with the ladies with "Not what your mom said last night!" then run, and fast.
I also relive middle school fairly regularly and I have some real zingers ready!! Anyway, maybe tell them to your kid so he's ready to fire back at the front-loaders. IDK about you, but the mom jokes started early in our kid's community, for better or worse.
Haha, yes, that would’ve been epic! All I needed was some help and about 30 years to come up with the perfect response. :)