A Proud Mom

Last night I talked to Nicole and hung up and was kinda teary. Vince asked why and I said . . I don’t even know but after we went to bed, I was thinking about it.

At Addie’s game Saturday, she was just not into cheering and she was standing out there, not doing a good job at all. At one point, Chad said “I feel like going out there and getting her off the field if that’s the best she can do.” I told him . . don’t do it. He said “You would have done it to me!” and I probably would have.

After Vince and I got home, we were laughing about it. The incident was not funny and I would have been just as frustrated with her as Chad was but being grandma . . it’s easier to laugh, knowing . . this too shall pass. Vince reminded me of when Chad was exactly Addie’s age and playing ball. He would have days when his heart and soul were into the game. Other days, the whole team seemed to be giving it their best shot and Chad was running around outfield trying to catch butterflies and paying no attention to what was going on with the batter.

Chad and several crews from his area were supposed to be leaving today to go to Wisconsin to work the rest of the year helping out up there but Mother Nature changed their plans and they left yesterday for Florida. It’s a job for these folks but it’s hard work and it’s a job a lot of people wouldn’t do. They are gone from home a lot. They never know quite what they’ll be facing when they arrive after major storm damage. When they went to Louisiana two years ago, the first week or so, the guys slept in their trucks, used makeshift bathroom facilities in a large “camp” that had been set up. Meals were brought in and served in tents outside. In summer in southwest Louisiana, it was hot and humid and mosquitoes were awful. Later they got hotels 3+ hours away south of Baton Rouge so they were spending 6 hours a day on the interstate. Later, they got hotels near Beaumont, Texas, cutting their driving time down to 2 hours per day. Later, a hotel in Lake Charles, just across the river from where they were working, was up and running on generator power. They had running water in the rooms, though precious little hot water, but the water was being trucked in and wasn’t potable. All their meals were brought in from who knows where because not much in the area was left intact enough to prepare and serve food.

It’s understandable but too many of the people they’re there to help get frustrated when weeks turn into months and they still have no power. They get very vocal with the crews when they see them headed home for the evening . . even after the guys have worked 12 – 16 hours in the heat. Too often we don’t stop to think what the other guy is going through – having left family behind, cancelled any plans you may have had, gotten on the road on short notice and left your family and friends to cover the things you need to be doing at your own home.

I think, last night, when I was teary, I was thinking about the 10 year old Chad, the frustration all of us parents go through, then the joy and pride that comes when we see our adult children and the good people they’ve become; the good parent, the good husband, the good worker.

Joplin is plagued with drug use and homelessness (and I know they do not necessarily go hand in hand). I see the homeless, and those asking for help every single time we go to Joplin. I’m so sad for them. As a mom and a grandma, I’m sad for their moms and grandparents. I know none of the circumstances. I don’t know who is there because of poor choices. I don’t know who is there because one missed paycheck due to a pandemic or an employer cutting back or going out of business. Even those folks who do not love themselves . . someone loves them. Someone worries about them.

I think back again to 10 year old Chad and I think . . but for the grace of God, there go I. My guess is that most of us who are parents have gone through times when we felt like total failures and wonder what on earth our child is going to grow up to be. Chad grew up to be a good one. Chad had people in his life who made a difference. Teachers. Friends. Families of friends. It truly takes a village. My uncle who is 90+ years old never had children and he has always loved Chad. I think sometimes Chad made right choices even when he didn’t want to, simply because he didn’t want to disappoint my uncle. Whatever the reasons may have been for Chad being who he is today, I’m more thankful than I can even express.

I am proud of him.

If you’re the praying type, please pray for those in the path of the hurricane and please pray for the folks all across this country who have left families behind and are headed to Florida to help . . no matter what conditions they are working under and no matter how long it takes to get power restored there. Not only the power company workers and support workers, but I’m sure there are all kinds of aid groups headed that direction. Please pray for the families these workers have left behind. This is hard on them too. For Nicole and Addie, they’re always excited to get to talk to Chad at night. Some nights Chad was tired and grumpy by the time he was able to talk to them; some nights, it wasn’t even possible to talk to him (no service, ..cell phone dead; worked too late to call home).

If you happen to be out on the highways today or tomorrow and see those utility company trucks headed towards Florida, give them a thumbs up and if you see any with Kansas plates, give them a double thumbs up because it could be Chad! 🙂