What if I become obsolete?

Today is the last day I get to see my family. No, we are not getting divorced, separated or moved to the basement. I am not going to prison, getting stationed out of the country or entering the witness protection program. The fact is… school is starting. Tomorrow, my wife starts student teaching and my kids start school. They will be gone before I get up and asleep before I get home from work. We will have Saturdays to be a family. We have talked about this day for a few months now. Knowing it is coming has not made it easier.

I was looking through some photos of my kids and missed them already. I wonder how we will stay connected. I wonder if I will be an intrusion in their lives on the weekend. I fear we will lose our close-knit family. I really fear I will become obsolete.

Obsolete: no longer used, out of date.

We have spent years building our family. I need them. But what if I become obsolete to the boys, obsolete to my wife, obsolete as a necessary part of my very close family? I don’t have an answer for this. All I can do is work at staying close and pray. Lord, give me grace.

I need a day job.

This kid makes me laugh

So… our youngest comes downstairs the other night at 1:30a. He informs me, “Dad, I might as well be sleeping on lava rocks!” Which, when translated, means, “Dad, I can’t sleep because it’s hot.” Being the kind loving father that I am, I tell him he can bring his sleeping bag into our room and sleep on the floor. He likes that and runs off to get his stuff. When I go upstairs to bed, I discover that my side of the bed is occupied by our youngest son.

I pondered what to do about this all-too-familiar situation… “Do I sleep in his bed?” – No way, I would have to put sheets on it. (An explanation is due at this point: Roxann had just done laundry and Noah is slow getting his bed made.) “Do I leave him there and try to sleep on the floor?” – Why would a man of my advanced years even think about that? I wouldn’t be able to walk for weeks. “Do I try to squeeze in between Roxann and Noah?” -Uh… no… that would be a recipe for no sleep accompanied by grouchiness in the morning. I ended up waking Noah.

“Noah,” I whispered, “why are you in my bed?” “Do I have to go to the floor?” he asks. “Yes, buddy. But why are you in my bed?” “Because, I just wanted to sleep up here.” As if that was the only possible explanation. This kid makes me laugh.

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.