Steps to Today

Happy birthday to my very sweet stepson, Austin.  He has shown up here in this blog often.

When I think about my life's "wins" - Austin gets more than an honorable mention.  Yes, it's true, I met him when he was very young, only five, so that improved our chances of bonding.  He wasn't too baked.  And there wasn't another active mother in the mix, so that didn't hurt either. 

We all know that parenting works best when the adults involved are in agreement (duh!).  Raising five children together, Shawn and I had many hearty discussions and never left the closed-door bathroom until we were united on whatever the current crisis was with any of them.

I'm not saying it was always The Brady Bunch, but honestly, I also can't imagine one scene during their growing up years that couldn't have been recorded.

I saw my time with Austin, in the early years, as a vocation, not unlike getting called to religious life.  Like that - a lifelong choice with tons of sacrifices.  But I underestimated the joys, the juice, that would come my way.  I was able to avoid the step traps, like coming on too strong or bribing with gifts, because, frankly, that wasn't my role.  He needed a mother, not a friend. 

And that's what he received.  Overnight, almost, he got a stepmom, and stepsibs, and visits with his bio mom, but he also got a huge dose of good ole-fashion family time and values, mostly void of video games and full of structure.  On family outings, he was always relegated to the back of the mini-van, not because he was a step, but because he was the youngest.  But he also received the most love, the most allowances, the most privileges . . . because he was the baby.

Contemplating marriage with Shawn was easy, deciding to be a stepmom was much, much harder.  Austin, solitarily, decided I was a good thing, that this was a good thing, and for his acceptance and devotion I will always be grateful.  He recognized my stepmom sincerity and accepted it, and me. 

I had read all the books before we blended.  I was braced for the refrain, "You're not my real mom!" 

It never came.  In fact, just the opposite.  I can hear his confident voice right now.  "This is my mom, Jenifer, and she is my real mom!"

Thank you son.  I wasn't there 23 years ago, but thank you for letting me in for most of the rest of it.  It's been a true honor.  Happy Birthday Austin.  xoxo, mom

Run...or Please Watch

We had the pleasure of watching Austin in one of his final runs as a DuHawk at the Loras Open on Saturday, both in the Steeplechase and the 5000 m.  He is getting some recognition for his Steeplechase wins - do you know about that race?  It originated in the British Isles back in the day when horses and riders raced between towns, jumping streams and low stone walls and using the town's steeples as their markers.  Anyway, the 3000 m race was won on Saturday by Austin.  See this cool pic below!

Like so many, I've been thinking a lot about runners and spectators lately. 

We can appreciate the tenacity of the disciplined runner, but after Boston, let's consider the people who come out to watch runners run - those of us who provide encouragement by screaming "you got it!" and "looking good!" and "step it up!"

They say running can be a lonely sport, but it's never lonely when someone is cheering you on.

As Kathrine Switzer (women's marathoning pioneer) said:  

If you are losing faith in human nature, go out and watch a marathon.

Easter 2013

We spent Easter weekend, with two of our favorites - our babies!  (Yes, I did hide baskets for them!)

Celebrating after the Easter Vigil, which clocked 1:45

 And then to Milwaukee . . .

Thanks for brunch, Joe!

                            

He's In!

Remember how I talked about Austin last week?

Well, he's in!  He's been admitted to The University of Iowa College of Dentistry!  This is a top-tier school, one of the best in the nation, and the only one in the country to offer every ADA-recognized specialty!  And he'll only be 30 minutes from home!  We are overjoyed.

He's going to be a Hawkeye, or, in his words, a DuHawkeye!  I can't wait to share the town with him!

Austin

The end of Austin's cross-country days are here and, while he is gearing up for one more track season, he is starting to realize that there are other things to chase - like dent school.  He spent a lot of his day today on the UI campus, interviewing at the College of Dentistry for a chance to be one of the lucky 70 (out of 400 chosen to interview from the pool of 900 applicants).  Fingers crossed for this 3-time All American standout, who has logged more than 12,000 miles in college.  We love you, Aust!  On to new challenges and new victories - no matter what path you choose!  Cheering from the cheap seats, I will be betting on you forever...xoxo, mom




This is typical Austin - when I asked who
 "them" was - he told me it was the team.



Proud fan.





Goodbye, season, er, career.
 



After today's interview, I just had to treat him
to a Gatorade at the Den.