A Parenting Checkpoint

I always joke with Shawn that I am taking full and complete credit for the raising of our kids- right up until they rob their first liquor store. Then they are all his.

As a parent, there are very few times that you have any idea that what you are doing is on the right track. Most times you fly by the seat of your pants and hope that if nothing else, you have not damaged your kid to the point of needing therapy.

AJ's last baseball game was this past weekend. They lost. But at the end of the game the awards for the season were handed out. AJ got the Sportsmanship Award. Shawn told me that there was one boy in particular on the team that just never seemed to hit the ball. But every time he got up to bat, AJ would start chanting: "Let's go Michael, Let's go!" And he would do this while the other kids on the team would tell Michael to "just hit the ball already" (in a less than encouraging voice).

On days like today, when the kid is literally driving me to drink with his vibrating AJ-ness, it helps to remember that he does indeed have a good heart. He is kind to his baby brother, he does his best to be good to his mom, and he understands the value of being a good friend to the people around him.

Who knows what the next years will hold. But by design or accident, I think we may be on the right track. At least this week.