Assault and Pepper Spray

[Photos by Dreamstime.com]

Each night I pray for, hug, and kiss each of my boys good night.  They won't go to sleep until I do.  We discuss heavy topics, pray for special situations and I'll often sing to them while scratching their backs.   Riece, my 7th graders, begs for extra hugs and will often crack a few jokes or tell a quick story, making us both dissolve in stifled giggles. I love his rascally quips and brilliantly quick whit.

One particular day had been extremely busy, crowding out our quality conversation time.   Despite being home-schooled, there are days we barely connect between his classes on campus, sports,  youth group activities, and his social time with buddies.

Permission to Show Off

Riece had his first Middle School basketball practice today.  We were both nervous and excited.

He hasn't actually set foot in a Middle School before.  After elementary school, we chose to home school him for a slew of reasons but still takes a few classes on a school campus that caters to home school families.    I picked him up from a class and drove him home to change.   I only had 10 minutes to give him a pep talk and wanted every second to count.

I know very little about basketball.  However, I do know a lot about being nervous, insecure, and wanting to hide in the shadows.   I prayerfully considered what pep talk I would have wanted to hear but more importantly, the pep talk I needed to hear.  I dove right in, pretending to be a sports mom....