Running Follow-Up and Good Flags

As a funny (I hope he thinks so) follow-up to the "raising a runner" below, turns out that at the meet last week, Au "left it all on the track" and gave it everything he had - including his breakfast which he left on the track. Gross. I told him I was proud of him for running so hard! his team did pretty well, and he was pleased with his ability to keep up with some of the "better" runners. And perhaps he will start listening to me about what you should and shouldn't eat before a meet. He wasn't with me that morning, so I had no input into his breakfast. Perhaps having the Runner of the family feed him would help? Oh probably not - he's a teenager who thinks he can do whatever he wants, most likely. Maybe lesson learned. We'll see this Saturday when he runs again. It was fun to watch him run!













The kids had a "flag" project at school - make a symbol for another, randomly chosen student in the class. And then that student, for the rest of the year, will show his "flag" to be called on, rather than raising a hand.



Sh, per usual, was all into it early on, knowing exactly what she wanted to do. So we went to various party stores and the dreded Michael's and this is what she came up with:

A pink hat with polka dots b/c that was her person's favorite colors. Lots of charms and beads and things based on her person's self-composed list of things important to her. It was a work of art with lots of stuff all the way around. Great job.

Ironically, the person she had also had her. AND that person also bought sh the SAME pink hat. Now people, these kids come from all over the region. And Sh doesn't particularly love Pink. So why the hat? B/c she wrote she "loves country music." So the girl told her mom to buy a cowboy hat. And this is what she got. A little bit too eery for everyone's taste. The odds of having each other was pretty low among 25 kids. But to buy each other the same thing? And remember, it could be ANYTHING - some kids made mobiles, some did scrolls, there were crowns and objects. 2 pink hats? Odd!

Au got the "least liked person" in the class. And true to Au form, he waited until the 11th hour. Under normal circumstances he would not be motivated, but this was so bad. Somehow, whether it was the Sunday School lessons on Love kicking in (we all teach the little kids together on Sundays), or his sister's prodding, or my constant asking, or his own values and interest in being creative, he rose to the challenge. And made this:

HOLY COW. A working curtain on the stage (b/c she loves theater) with sewn curtains (another mom's help) and the stage opens to the girl's initials. Her sibling's names decorated the back of the stage (b/c they are important to her). When he presented in class, she cried. She said it was the nicest thing anyone ever did for her. I was and am very proud of him for doing "the right thing" and doing it well. Sometimes God gives us challenges and we wonder why. I think this was a great lesson. And his "flag?" Someone made him a crown b/c he is the "philosopher king" in class, but such a joker outside of class. I don't have a photo but it was really well done - each of the "points" on the flag had something important to him - Rugby, music, his favorite colors, his initials, Monty Python. It was beautiful and he was so impressed and thankful. His comment? "What goes around comes around - good thing I put a lot of effort into my project!"

Kids. Sometimes even after nearly 16 years, they surprise you.