Never had time to bake them because we got a call that his knee went out on him during practice. Renaissance Man came early from work today, which is unusual for him and we hurried to pick him up at the football field and there was Moe with bandages wrapped around his knee and looking frustrated.
He looked at us and said, "Happy Birthday to Me" and then started crying. He kept saying over and over, "Why did this have to happen to me?" Little does he know that I was saying the same thing over and over in my head. And I wanted to cry with him. I knew if I started crying, he would feel bad and try to make me feel better. So, I held it in until now. I'm just letting the tears roll down my face as I type this.
He's a great kid. He works hard. And the darn kid loves football! Why couldn't he love something with less contact like tennis or bowling? He's a great football player, I'm not saying that because he's my son, he's really good. When he was injured last year mid-season, you could tell the team was struggling without him. The pain of not being able to play was a lot greater than the physical pain he endured. And when the season ended, it was 4 long months of having to see him go thru painful physical therapy. The pain never ended and the tears and frustration were endless.
So when the fracture finally healed two months ago, we all hoped (naively) that that would be the end of his injuries. And then his knee buckled under him during a very light drill. Moe is a trooper. He doesn't want to quit football even when we told him that he could, he doesn't have to go through this. He looked at us and with a steely determination in his eyes said, "I will never quit football." Dang it!!!! I just want him to be safe. I'm tired of seeing him get dissapointed. I just want him to be that little boy again.
I want him to be that little boy whose biggest problem of the day was whether to play kick ball or tether ball during recess. I wish I could make life easier for him. If I could take his pain away I would.
I can't take his pain away. I can't wish for him to be that little boy again. And I can't promise him that life would get easier because it doesn't. My wish for him on his birthday is to continue to love him, support him, and not wish for him to be that little boy. I'm proud of the young man he is today. Pizza & Peanut Butter Sandwiches!
Happy Birthday Son.
24 comments:
happy birthday to him. After he came out of his cast how long was he in physical therapy? After my knee surgery I was in physical therapy, 3 times a week for 2 hours each day for 3 months straight.
From there I didn't feel the muscles around the knee were back to normal so I could run, stop, change directions. You can then go to a sports trainer, they have these facilities that are designed to shave your time off of your run or improve your game, whatever your game may be. It's pricey but definitely worth it. A lot of pro athletes go to these facilities to rehab as well. It is called velocity in our neck of the woods. I know they have one out west under a different name. Check it out.
I know what it's like to have a son who football is everything.
Remind him in the end it's all about grades and a college degree.
i am so sorry that moe got hurt. my heart goes out to the both of you. it must be so hard to just sit there and watch your son struggle with pain and with the disappointment of his injury. i wish him all the best and hope that his knee will heal and be back to normal. Good luck, Moe!
OH NO MOE!
I am so sorry about his knee!
He will come out even stronger. I LOVE his determination (and at such a young age). He will be the high school HERO!
Maybe you can just tell him that the NEW family tradition is that on 17th birthdays that involve injuries, the protocol is to have a celebration every day for a week. THen you could make him his raspberry jelly rolls one night and give him a silly little gift, make cupcakes another night and another silly gift, cookies and a gift....make it crazy and fun! Maybe it would help....but then again, I'm just goofy like that!
Have a wonderful day~
♥,LIlly
That doesn't sound like a very good birthday! I hope that his knee heels up quickly!
Not a very fun birthday at all. But you're there for him and that's all that counts. He has the best parents...he's such a good boy!
Hugz,
Michele
Awwww...this just broke my heart. I feel so bad for him and for you. It is so painful to be a parent and have to watch your kids have hard times ... I know they need to experience them as a part of life but your instinct is just to want to protect them and shield them and keep them safe. But the fact that he is surrounded by love and support is the best birthday gift he could ever have ... even though he might not realize it now. Best wishes to him and I hope he can heal soon and pursue his dreams.
Poor Moe. What a terrible way to spend a birthday. Although, his determination and strength is very commendable. He sounds like a great kid.
My brother is 17, too. His sport is baseball, but he's seen his share of broken bones - including a really bad shattered eye socket (OUCH!) He pitches and got hit in the eye by a line drive - luckily he didn't have permenant damage. But tough kid that he is, all he wanted to know was when he could get back on the mound.
Boys can be pretty resilient. Here's hoping Moe recovers quickly and can get back to the sport he loves. :)
Give Moe a great big hug from me and tell him happy birthday all the way from Germany! I'm so sorry to hear that he got hurt again. I know that was a hard thing to go through for all of you. Hang in there girl and like you said, just love who he is now. I miss you!!!
So Sad!!!! I feel so bad for Moe (and you). Poor guy! He'll always remember this birthday and maybe in the future it will put other birthdays in perspective. You are such a good mom!!! I know you are hurting for him.
The bond between a boy and their mother! Football is no forgiver. Birthday's are unpredictable. Pizza and PB sandwiches are always good!
Happy Birthday to Moe! I'm so sorry about his injury. I hope he feels better soon. He sounds like a strong guy with a wonderful spirit. I'm sure he'll bounce back soon. Pizza and Peanut butter sandwiches should help put a smile on his face for a little while at least. He's lucky that he has his number one cheerleader (YOU) in his corner:)
Happy Bday!!!!!!
Oh, this made me so sad! I am sad that he is hurting and will not be able to play his favorite sport for a while! I often think I am lucky because Kaish isn't that into sports. I think it would be SO hard to watch your kid out on a field in danger : ). I will keep him in my prayers this weekend! I will pray for a quick recover. Happy Birthday to your baby!
Oh sad! He seems like such a great kid, I totally relate to wanting to take his pain away! I'm sure somewhere along the way, you'll find out why this happened and it will make sense! Happy Birthday Moe, hope you feel better soon!
I left you an award on my blog today:)
I hope things get better quickly for him. No fun at all to not be able to do something you love. Bah. I feel horrible for him and you guys. Sending good wishes his way~! And a Happy Birthday to Moe.
Sooo sad, Moe and his knee. And yes HK you CRACK me up!!!! Don't worry though my hubby and his fam (and mine as well) think I've got the blonde roots goin'. LOL! You know what's even funnier? I don't really mind when they tease me. I figure ONE day I'll have it all down packed- the who'll be laughing??? Yeah, I just laugh it off and move on. Atleast we can laugh at ourselves, huh???!!!
As adults, we get impatient when our bodies don't behave the way we expect them too. I can only imagine how he feels when all he wants to do is get out there and play ball. I'm sure, in time, he will heal and be just fine. In the meantime, he'll have a little more time to bond with his parents :)
Happy Birthday to Moe! And Happy Mother's Day to you, H.K.!
Oh that is just the most frustrating thing for him. I've had 4 sons play football and luckily never sustained a serious injury. BUT, my husband has had both knees totally redone due to football injuries (he coaches now). And my best friends son, 1/2 way through his senior year, busted his leg during a game and was devastated to think he wouldn't be able to play the year out. There are no "explanations" for sure and it is hard ---SO HARD---for us moms to watch the disappointment in our kids dreams. I am soo sorry, but happy birthday Moe
:( poor kid. :(
Happy Birthday.
Happy Birthday Moe!!!
Please tell him not to feel bad. One of our friend's son had the same love of football. His name was Luke Staley. He ended up leaving our smalkl town of about 20,000 people for BYU where he became a very popular running back in the early 2000's. Each year he would come home and for the love of football he would play in the annual ward Turkey Bowl...although all were very careful not to tackle him and hurt him...Although judging by his size...there was no chance. In the end he was drafted by the Detroit Lions. He was excited that he was finally going to fulfill his dream of playing in the NFL. He too was plagued with knee injuries. Unfortunately, he never played one NFL game, but while we were talking to him he said he always had to remember how much he truly loved the game. THAT is what brought him fighting back from each injury. Go for it Moe!
It's for the love of the game!!!
I hope that his body is able to heal. I never will understand how boys can sustain so many injuries playing football. I know it is a contact sport, but still. It isn't rugby! I hope that he can play in the fall.
Oh my stars...I could have written this....these boys sound very similar....it has broken my heart to watch Brody....in the last two football seasons he has been at the top of his game...as a sophmore he had made quarterback in the varsity team and tore his knee up both times both resulting in surgeries...and now he is trying to strengthen it and hoping to play in his senior year with NO injuries....I am keeping my fingers crossed...he eats and breathes football...anybody that can play in our 120 degree heat in pads must love it...as for myself I think they are nuts! It is nothing more than organized fighting as far as I'm concerned...LOL
Awwww.... while it's a bit late... remind him that things happen for reasons... tell him to step back and realize what he learned from it all... perhaps how much "Renaissance Man" loves him, enough to miss work for him without a 2nd though. Perhaps it was that his mom, while she wants to be a Super woman can't always be & won't always be able to fix things... but will always be there for him. Most of all, it made him just an ounce stronger. He'll have many more birthdays to celebrate and eventually will look back & say "Remember when I blew my knee out on my birthday!?"
Take it from a woman who's asked the question often... we always eventually realize WHY things happen. Sometimes the bigger picture explains it all!
((HUGS)))
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