Geeked out math-letes

Here’s my son, 13, 8th grade, athlete, math-lete. What? Math-lete? That’s odd. Yeah… he is one of 6 eighth-graders chosen to represent his school at the Missouri Council of Teachers of Mathematics Annual Contest. It’s an individual competition with an opportunity to advance to the state finals. You know what? I am more excited about him excelling in math than about his basketball or track or even football accomplishments.

Hmm. I have a math geek for a son. Gotta tell you… I am proud of that. I am even more proud of his decision to be one. He once told Roxann and I that he could be popular but didn’t like the decisions he saw them making. So he chooses to geek out.

I always thought I would grow up, have kids, see them excel in sport, and be proud about it. Don’t get me wrong, I am glad Chase likes basketball and track. Oddly enough, I am super proud of his excellent math skills.

Just thought I would brag on him a little bit.

8th grade yearbook

Remember the 8th grade yearbook? I remember going around trying to get people to sign mine. I was nervous. I wanted them to sign something cool and original. What invariably happened was the guys would write something like, “Dude, what’s it feel like having someone write in your crack?” The girls would write something like, “You are sweet (or cute or fun).” They would also write the devastating, “You have a great personality.” In my 8th grade yearbook someone wrote, “You are great, don’t ever change.” I didn’t really think about it in 8th grade, but I have since then.

What if I never changed? What if I was just the same as I was in 8th grade? I would be running around with a 14 year old mentality. My maturity level would be the same. I would be self-centered, immature and lacking any kind of life experience to draw from. If I were stuck with a 14 year old mentality, I would not be able to function in a grown up world. If I never changed I would feel insecure around powerful people. I would struggle for acceptance thinking everyone around me was aware of my flaws and wouldn’t accept me because of them. I would think less of myself because of my flaws. I also would be intensely private (at least I was when I was 14).

I like who I have become since the 8th grade. The boy of my youth has slipped away with the passage of time leaving a man in its stead.