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Overnight Stay
Mar. 1st, 2012 12:10 pmJust got back from an overnight stay at the casino. My wife had gotten us tickets to The Irish National Dance Company's "Rhythm of the Dance," and gave hers to the grandson so that he could see his first-ever live show. He's been going with us to the casino since he was about three, so we also know how to make a day of it.
We got on the highway right after picking him up at school and checked in at the hotel as soon as we got there. Despite some obligatory negotiating, pleading, whining - by him, and in that order - I insisted that we do the day's homework assignment before anything else.
Then we went over to the domed Sportsplex to hit a few long ones on the driving range. And, for a change, he was really pleased with what he did. He actually said that, for not having played in so long, he felt like he was hitting the ball really well. Which I thought was quite perceptive for a kid his age.
And he was right, having at least 4-5 drives that reached the back wall at about 100 yards. It's still funny to hear the comments of the adults as this little 50 lb. nine-year-old blasts them out past the 90-yard mark. He also commented that he could tell from his backswing if there was going to be a problem with the drive that followed it. And where the ball was going to go, based on what part of the club face he struck the ball with.
Pretty remarkable for a kid who's had about 10 minutes of professional instruction. Which kind of bears out what the club pro told me some months back, that he'd rather not subject kids to too much instruction but rather let them find their own way at the start. Which I think Jason is doing remarkably well at.
After a few minutes on the practice green, now shrunk because of a recent expansion of the pro shop, we headed off to the hotel pool where he seemed much more relaxed and confident in the water than when I last saw him.
Then we met his grandma for a rather hurried dinner before the show, which he seemed to enjoy. All-in-all, it was a much more positive experience with him than in the recent past. I don't know if he just appreciated it more because of the new living arrangement that's come about since our last trip out there, but I was really happy that we did this for him.
I had actually started to wonder, prior to this, why I was being punished for trying to do something nice for the kid. Now I wonder if his behavior was really displaced anger at his dad for his unwillingness to be the one doing these things with him.
Guess I shouldn't spoil the moment with reflections on the negative...
LPK
LiveJournal
3.1.2012 (b)
We got on the highway right after picking him up at school and checked in at the hotel as soon as we got there. Despite some obligatory negotiating, pleading, whining - by him, and in that order - I insisted that we do the day's homework assignment before anything else.
Then we went over to the domed Sportsplex to hit a few long ones on the driving range. And, for a change, he was really pleased with what he did. He actually said that, for not having played in so long, he felt like he was hitting the ball really well. Which I thought was quite perceptive for a kid his age.
And he was right, having at least 4-5 drives that reached the back wall at about 100 yards. It's still funny to hear the comments of the adults as this little 50 lb. nine-year-old blasts them out past the 90-yard mark. He also commented that he could tell from his backswing if there was going to be a problem with the drive that followed it. And where the ball was going to go, based on what part of the club face he struck the ball with.
Pretty remarkable for a kid who's had about 10 minutes of professional instruction. Which kind of bears out what the club pro told me some months back, that he'd rather not subject kids to too much instruction but rather let them find their own way at the start. Which I think Jason is doing remarkably well at.
After a few minutes on the practice green, now shrunk because of a recent expansion of the pro shop, we headed off to the hotel pool where he seemed much more relaxed and confident in the water than when I last saw him.
Then we met his grandma for a rather hurried dinner before the show, which he seemed to enjoy. All-in-all, it was a much more positive experience with him than in the recent past. I don't know if he just appreciated it more because of the new living arrangement that's come about since our last trip out there, but I was really happy that we did this for him.
I had actually started to wonder, prior to this, why I was being punished for trying to do something nice for the kid. Now I wonder if his behavior was really displaced anger at his dad for his unwillingness to be the one doing these things with him.
Guess I shouldn't spoil the moment with reflections on the negative...
LPK
LiveJournal
3.1.2012 (b)
