Thomas had another football game last night. I left Catherine in town with the dog (which made her happy) and took Robert along with me. We arrived just in time for the 8th grade game to begin. It was a really, really good game. I watched Thomas shadow his father throughout the entire game. Andrew had told us a story a couple of weeks ago about wanting to put a player in the game and couldn't find him, and Thomas was not going to let that happen to him. Thomas was almost always nearly just two or three steps away from his dad during the entire game.
It was an amazingly close game, and was a scoreless tie at halftime. I know that doesn't sound very exciting, but it actually was. Our team couldn't get much going offensively, but had put up some amazing defensive stands. The game was still a scoreless tie at the end of the third quarter, and Thomas hadn't yet taken the field. I knew this was problematic, as Thomas is not at all talented, and it can be challenging to not have your best players in during close games. As I watched our team punt with three minutes left in the fourth quarter, I knew Thomas wasn't getting in the game, and I could tell, even from the stands, that Thomas knew it too. My heart began to hurt and my eyes began to fill with tears as I could see Thomas's reaction on the sideline. The tough part is that Andrew has always made a commitment to get every player into the game, and usually for at least two series. But there was his own son who hadn't touched the field.
The opposing team began to drive down the field, and the tensions were high at the end of the game. When it looked like we had them stopped, a penalty was called on our defense that gave the opposing team more chances. The game came down to a play with 16 seconds left. It was fourth down and they needed only about six yards to get into the endzone. Our defense held though (while I was holding my breath) and we took over on downs. All we needed was to make sure we could snap the ball and get out of the endzone and the game would be a tie. While not a moral victory, the goal line stand was incredible and our team was excited. Between the stress of watching the game and hurting for my son, I was really fighting the tears.
Thomas walked up and I could see the hurt on his face. He was trying so hard not to show his emotions, but they were evident on his face. I asked if he was mad at his dad, and he said he was. I reminded him that he had played the week before and that no one could take that away from him, and that no matter what he was still part of the team. He wanted to ride the bus home, so I walked over to Andrew and very tersely told him I was leaving and that I was hurting that my son was so heartbroken.
Andrew texted me when he got back to the school to let me know they were on their way home, and to ask if I was mad at him. I wasn't angry, I was just emotionally drained by that point. It had been a long week with my kiddos, and although Robert's stress and emotions had been brought on himself by his own choices, it still hurts to see my kids hurting. Andrew came home and told me how angry he was as Thomas's father at Thomas's coach, and we both smiled at the dilemma of it all. Thomas had a couple of players talk to him and he felt better about that, but it was such an emotional evening.
Between shear physical exhaustion, the emotions of the week as a parent, and maybe even due to the full moon, I'm still feeling emotional today. But, we have almost made it to the weekend!
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