In the Beginning...

You know, it is funny, who would have ever thought that they would face the perils of organized youth sports as a parent as they were growing up?
Who out there ever had dreams about such details as they were growing up or maybe even in the first couple of years after becoming a parent?

A little back ground on me, Rob, the “meat head, motor-mouth” toe head kid from the Kettering/Miamisburg/West Carrollton area of Ohio.
As early as I can remember, Hockey was my first love, from the second I put the skates on the very first time in Centerville Ohio around 1971/1972. My dad had taken me ice skating one day, lord only knows why. An older fellow was there giving a little Hockey clinic – next thing I knew, I was out there with the other kids polishing the ice with our back sides. (What a sight that must have been.)
The following year, Football became a part of my life as well, but I never loved it the way I loved Hockey. Sure I could hit people and that was cool, but it was always just something to do until the next Hockey season.
Truth be told, I was middle of the back at best, middle of the pack Hockey player and middle of the pack Football player.
I just remember it being fun and I always had a great deal of support from Mom and Dad – they were both awesome.
I finished up the Hockey career and Football careers the same year; I had to have an emergency Kidney surgery. Truth be told, girls, cars and beer had became the priority at that point, I have to believe I was nearly done with sports at that time – there was way too much to do for a 16 year old wanting to raise a little hell.

I need to fast forward a bit, got married in 1991 to the best thing that has ever happened to me. Seventeen years later, I still know she is the best thing that has ever happened to me and I love her more today than yesterday… she was mean to me yesterday! Just kidding, Kim is my universe!

Fast forward again too late December 1994 or early January 1995, Kim let’s me know right after dinner we are going to be parents! I can honestly say I was very excited for the first hour or so, but then the realization of actually what that meant scared the absolute hell out of me. Why did it scare me, well to be honest, I didn’t know exactly what it meant to be a parent and that is what scared the hell out of me – the “meat head” kid who was always in trouble now has to pay for his razin’ is what I thought.

I know this will sound weird and all, but I have always known that I would have two girls, always. During the pregnancy, I would tell Kim I wanted a boy, I had told her that several times before she got pregnant – “I want a boy.” (I was trying to convince God to change his mind, but I knew it was going to be a girl.) I always knew we were going to have two kids – I was an only child and I swore that I would not do that to a child.

Sure enough, our little Kirsten was born October, 1995. I can honestly say, the day she was born, the gender was not important at all – she was healthy and the most beautiful thing I had ever seen – “She had me at hello”, just like her momma!

I think that this is a good place to stop for now, I will write again soon!