All
This final, regular season email was supposed to be another long,
boring 2,000 word treatise on the lax landscape our boys will travel
in the coming years. Snoozefest. Even I’m weary of me! Ha ha. Instead,
lets live a little more in the present. What do wise men say?
Yesterday is history and tomorrows a mystery?
Courtesy of Maureen Silverman and approved by Connor and his Dad,
Brent, I have been given permission to share something much more
meaningful. Below is the email Connors Mom sent earlier this week. Dig
a little bit deeper, and the gifts of this great sport will reveal
themselves.
We have seen some special things this season. One very special truth
we came away with is this: Moms and Dads, each of you have raised fine
young sons. From the first day of practice to Sundays last game and
everyday in between, your boys have consistently displayed remarkable
character and compassion. As I mentioned in an earlier email, the
coaches have never seen a group of boys who care so much about each
other. By the end of this email the who, what, why, where, when and
how will manifest themselves. Even then, I find it tough to figure out
exactly who’s gift this is.
Thank you Maureen and Brent. And thank you Connor for your smile, your
willingness to share and your depth of character to take ownership of
the fact that you have overcome so many obstacles. You are an amazing
person, you are an inspiration and we are blessed that you have come
into our lives.
One Love, Rastamon!
Coach DC
The 1st time I emailed John, explaining Connor’s auditory processing
issue, the response has been amazing and accepting. The last 8 weeks
have been some of the most important and defining of Connor’s life. He
is a kid that was born so early he wasn’t suppose to live. After 5
months in the NICU, he came home and hasn’t stopped amazing us, or
smiling, since. As his 2nd grade teacher said, “Connor has never had a
bad day.” Of course I like to say it’s his Irish feistiness!
Our attitude with Connor has always been to treat him as normally as
possible, and make no exceptions. I never wanted to baby him, or
coddle him. Ok, I did-but that’s not the right thing for him.
Fast forward 12 years and he says he wants to play Lacrosse. My
brother is a LAX Coach in Chicago and says, “I don’t know-sometimes
it’s too physical, he may not like it.” My husband doesn’t know
either. But I sign him up and we go up to All Star, I buy all the
gear, and then some-and off he goes.
The 1st practice I watch with my heart in my throat. He’s last during
drills. Way last. My eyes start to water. But he gets in the car, and
says, “that was great!” “my Coaches are awesome.” His sisters tell
him he looks like a Gladiator in his equipment. Suddenly it’s Lacrosse
talk in this house ALL Spring. He starts showing his sisters the
things he is learning. (they play too) ONLY Lacrosse shorts are worn
to school. The backyard now has a bounce back net. At some point
during those weeks, when I looked for him during drills, it took
awhile to find him. Why? Because he was mixed in with the pack. He was
doing it!
I drop him a bit early to a practice a few weeks ago, and as he gets
out of the car, there are 6 boys standing there. I’m thinking to
myself, “Are they nice to him?” and then I hear “hey Connor/Hi Connor,
hey Connor let’s pass”. Little do these boys, or their parents know, I
drove away with tears again, and the biggest smile you have ever seen.
It’s those things that mean so much when you spend ALOT of time
worried about your son, both academically and socially. And the game
with the Goal, I will remember FOREVER. Even my daughters “got” why I
was so happy.
To hear him rave about the coaches and the kids on his team has been
so great. I have a daughter in 5th and last week Blake Lori yells down
the hall, “hey Caroline-your brother Connor is awesome!” How amazing
is that?
You all have given him an unbelievable confidence. An unbelievable
sense of team and belonging. I know you guys are going to go on and
coach kids with some great talent. Maybe their parents will be
obsessed with fair playing time, going to the Columbus tournament,
etc. But not us. We know our son is a gift, and the fact he was on
YOUR team was also a gift. And through the years we have met some
people who shock us with their character and compassion. People we
will never forget. You are all now on that list. Please forward this
to the other Coaches and tell them how much they changed a kids life,
and how grateful we are. Thank you SO much for more than just a great
season of LAX. Maureen