thursday night i let sebastian sleep in the playroom. in spite of his weakened state, he was pleased. the playroom? sleeping there? how thrilling!

"can we pull out the couch bit, mummy? like i am a guest?"

it was quite nice to have him in the playroom, because when he sleeps in the top bunk, it is tough for me to smooth his hair and have a drowsy talk with him. but thursday night, after i gave him his last dose of ibuprofin, and made him repeat again where the sick bucket was, i returned the medicine to the kitchen cupboard and then had to check on my patient. oh, he was tired. i sat down on the bed and twitched the covers. unnecessarily smoothed his forehead, just to check his temperature.

sebastian, i whispered, selfishly.

his heavy eyelids opened so slowly. "yes mummy".

"i love you sebastian"

he made the supreme effort and lifted a hand, touched my face.  twirled some of my hair, which i normally hate.

"my mummy."

he gave a heartbreaking smile, that just shone his transparent love for me.

it is overwhelming. i mess up so often....you should see how badly i handle homework time with him (not to suggest he is perfect!)...but in return i get this SMILE, and caress.

"if you don't feel well...what are you going to do?" sotto voice.

"come see you."

"that's right. my good boy."

"even if you are sleeping, mummy?"

"oh, sebastian."

sebastian played a good tournament on sunday. it is difficult for him to get enthusiastic some days, and sunday was one of them. his first two games were meh...which was difficult. as he had won a pennant the previous tournament, coaches AND parents were expecting more of him this tournament.

but sebastian isn't a boy who will scream (pass to me! HERE! right here!) or dive aggressively into the scrum. (unlike his mummy). and, the7 yr olds have discovered a new game called, "let's pass to our friends", which their coach quickly put to an end. "You don't pass to FRIENDS, you pass to the TEAMMATE who is in the BEST POSITION to make a TRY for the TEAM."

game three and four, seb warmed up, just like the afternoon sun, and played really well. he is really good at not losing metres for his team right after receiving the ball. he finds the holes and he runs. and, being a good caldwell boy (again, not like his mummy who is NOT a fast funner), he also runs quickly through the holes.

he felt great knowing that he had played well.

some kids felt richer knowing they had played well. we learned that some parents give their children the equivalent of $7us for a tackle and $15us for a try. per game. what do you think of that? it is a great motivator, but??? i am not sure if there are cons, it's just a new concept for me.

Comments

[Mo aka Maureen aka Grandmother aka Mum]

I just LOVED your telling of the playroom sleepover - what a sweet boy. And yay for Seb and playing so well. Well done, Sebastian!
Love, M xox

[Dad aka GDad Blake]

And don't forget to apply ice packs to the heads of the children when they have tummy upsets, It seems to help.

Love to all....Dad

[Auntie Mandy]

Tess I dont know about the money per play thing.. I mean then it's a dissapointment if you have a bad day and it becomes all about how much you made not about the friends you make, the accomplishments, teamwork, etc. I remember when I was in swimming I got a special reward after each season or level. That was so exciting (I'm pretty sure you took me to a movie once!). Maybe look at that. Either way you'll figure it out. Love you lots, xox

[Charmaine]

I can hear every word spoken between the two of you in my head so clearly. I miss you.

And no, not a fan of bribing for success (not to say I don't do it myself though....but I like hypocrisy as much as I enjoy sarcasm...I am excellent at both)...

[lyns]

Please oh please don't pay him for playing a sport... I firmly belive that it sends the wrong message...then he is playing for HIS glory and for selfish reasons instead of for the TEAM...if they win it's because they all worked together and fought together and tried together...if they lost it was because they worked together and tried together and fought together..but need to work and try and fight harder together...get my theme???
I had a freind once whose dad paid her for every home run she made...he got angry when she was injured and angery if she was benched and angry if she only hit a triple... she only ever thought about her standing and could have cared less about anyone else on the team...
Seb is a great player b/c of his team and his team is good b/c Seb is part of it... Sports are supposed to be about growing and playing together...
XO LYNS

[elaine d]

When I read this I was reminded of Sebbie's sleepover in the trailer! What a fun memory. Now, with a grandson of our own, we're looking forward to many more little boy sleepovers!

I agree with Mandy & Lyns concerning paying kids for succeeding in sports (or school). I'm definitely not for it.

See you soon!

[JoeInVegas]

Oh, nothing sadder than sick kids. Hope all are well.

[odila]

I so don't agree in this paying thing. Children learn from this early age to be materialistic!! Oh please, where has parenting skills gone?
Love
Odila