Cheering On our Kids

What did it take to make you into the person you are today? I mentioned before that getting my kids through high school is one of my major goals. Most people read that and think “high school is not that hard, that’s a bad goal.” The problem is, that paradigm of thinking shows the separation between the classes and how hard it is to get yourself from one to the other. 

We have seen 5 kids, in our ten years, become the first ever high school graduates in their family. Another, is the first person in his group home’s history to enter university. 

If you’ve never been woken up for school, told to do your homework or punished for skipping class, you’re behind. Even more, if you’ve never been told, “you can do it,” “I’m proud of you,” or especially “I love you,” how do you go through the world believing you should accomplish anything? You just give up.

All the boys I know play on this side of the court.

This is a home game, and there’s still no one cheering them on. The other side is completely full.

A bunch of our boys play basketball on the high school team together. We went to watch one of their games and Rebecca snapped this picture. No one is in the stands for these kids. Just a couple girls and one parent I know, at a home game. So even at a home game, everyone is cheering against them. Everyone. Luckily I’m loud and obnoxious, so when I’m there I can cheer loud, but it’s just me. It’s only ever me.

It’s a big job. My voice gets tired, and sometimes I’m not even sure what I’m yelling I just want them to know I’m there for them. It’s the perfect metaphor for my walk with these kids. Sometimes they feel like everyone is against them (abuse, neglect), I just try to be the loud voice in the opposite direction. I can’t wake them up, but I can promise them a trip. Teach them to plan ahead from grade 9 to 12. Motivate them by giving them a goal and cheering them on to it.

Last year’s team, they won the junior city championship!