What do you do when you have a child that loves football? Lives and breathes the game, watches everything he can breaks down the game for me and his younger brothers. In his spare time he can be found drawing football plays. My oldest son loves football. I don’t understand this adoration, I just cant. I am not wired this way. There is even a small part of me that thinks oh great another minority male that wants to be an athlete. Cant he just be a scientist or something? Don’t get critical of me as I think aloud to myself. But its true, I want my son to be something other than an athlete because nowadays it just seems so typical. How many youth idolize sports players and feel that sports will be their ticket to fame and fortune. Trust me I could go on and on about this topic but I will not.
Instead I recall my childhood. The one thing I was certain of was one day I’d be a hairstylist. I was sure of it, from around the age of four. Hairstyling consumed my thoughts. There were several of my close relatives that worked in salons. I spent many many hours in various salons observing. I loved it. I dreamed of how my salon would be *the* spot in town. If you ever came to my home you were a potential customer. My dolls were customers as well. While in junior high I found out about a high school that offered cosmetology as a trade. I scheduled an appointment with my guidance counselor and asked her if she could help me. This was pre internet days. She requested an information packet for me. Once received, I stayed up all day and night reading and putting a plan together to apply. My mother initially was not supportive. She wanted me to do something else. But my heart never swayed. I was on a mission. So I filled out my paper work and went to an open house, with my mother and guidance counselor. While there I secured an interview and was accepted into the high school. Admittance was a two part process, first I had to apply to the school then my sophomore year I had to apply to the cosmetology school. My mother later told me that someone gave her some advice. They told her if your child is really into something you should support it. I never knew this person that gave my mother this advice but boy am I thankful. My mom became my number one fan. She was supportive of me when it was time to apply to the cosmetology portion of the program and on my first attempt I was declined. She went to bat for me and I got another interview and the second time around was accepted. I completed my hours while in high school. Took my state board exams and passed first time around. By my senior year in high school I was working part time in a salon with a steady clientele. Thanks in part to my mother. It was hard work taking traditional high school classes and studying for my license. I had to show up prepared and get the job done but without her I would not have had the funds or support to complete this goal. For years I worked hard to see a dream come to light. The road was not easy there were plenty of tough times, however I can say that my dream was always championed by my mother. It was mom that sat me down my senior year of high school and encouraged me to have a bigger dream. Working in a salon was great but she believed the world had something greater in store for me and she was right. So with her encouragement I applied to college was accepted and my story continues from there.
Many years later it is now my turn to take the advice given to my mother and put it into practice with my own children. So what do you do when you have a son that loves football? I mean really loves, football; eats, drinks, sleeps and breathes football! You support him, expose him to all that is out there. You teach him to get up when he’s knocked down, be tough and be a team player. You tell him that he should not brag on himself but allow others to compliment him. You tell him its not about the games he wins, but that he gives each game his very best. You tell him that no matter where he goes in life, whatever career path he chooses be it science or NFL, I support you. And you can always come home where you are loved.
When I was notified that our homeschool co-op was taking a field trip to tour the Cowboys Stadium I jumped on it. Here are a few photos from our day at the stadium. Hopefully, this upcoming season, Christopher and his dad will get a chance to go and watch a game.
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