Team Player

Grant is just an awesome kid who clearly sets his own course. Superior in math and way above average in everything else in school, he rises above the ordinary. He clearly is not cut from the same cloth as his brother is, and to be frank, it is great to have children who are not carbon copies of one another.  

Grant fully embraced Middle School. He no longer wanted us to walk with him to the bus stop. In fact, if it is raining he makes us drive him halfway so that it looks like he walked on his own.  He is engaged in school at all levels. 

So, when the basketball season started, Grant dropped Science Olympiad and tried out to be the Boy's Basketball Team manager. Because he is in 6th Grade, he is ineligible to play any sports but he can be a team manager, and that's what happened.  

Grant was one of three selected to help the team with rebounds, provide water, ensure that balls were put away, and that the home stadium was reset at the end of the game.  He loved being part of team. He hated having to reset the stadium when he felt he should be with the team after a win - because the win was as much his as player's.  

As the manager he saw the best of players and worst of parents.  Kids play basketball with heart and determination. Parents watch the game with emotion and opinions. 

At least once those emotions and opinions rose to a point where refs had to remove parents from the game. It is an ugly thing to see because this is just a bunch of 7th and 8th Graders playing. It is not the NCAA Tournament.  

Despite me encouraging him to wear a coat and tie at games, Grant was very proud of his team pull over and Bengals themed Nikes.  Watching from the stands I was impressed at how well he fit in among kids who were older than him. Grant showed no fear, shyness, or apprehension around these boys who were clearly maturing.  While it might only seem like 24 short months between those classmates, the surge of hormones between 12 and 14 years old is significant and it shows.  At the team dinner after the last game, Grant engaged everyone. Grant had no problem holding his own. 

The Fuquay Varina Middle School Boy's Basketball season is over.  The team won several, including a couple of nail biters, and lost a few hard-fought games too.  They had one of the best managers ever.