Racquet Mom

 It continues to astonish me how different all three of my sons' personalities are and how I can mostly predict how they will react in any given situation. My oldest, true to his birth order, is cautious and often most logical in his thinking. My middle son is adventurous, wild and free but not completely without fear. My youngest is a timid observer who only takes risks when there is a guaranteed reward. If I were to take all three boys to a water park, my first born would be happy to ride the slides after his middle brother gave it a test run. The youngest would be content splashing in the shallow end next to me all while watching his brothers play. When we go out for ice cream, my oldest takes his tried-and-true toppings while my middle son risks ruining his cold treat with a concoction of gummy frogs, Nerds and a pile of Maraschino cherries. And as long as my youngest doesn't have to share a shred of his own ice cream, he's a happy camper. I've been encouraging my b...

   The closer we get to something, or someone, the quicker (and I argue, the better) our reaction needs to be. This happens during volleying in tennis. The balls arrive quickly, and you need to react in order to keep the ball in play, let alone strike a winner. It's true for getting closer to people too. Feelings can arrive with a certain quickness the closer you get to someone. It can be unexpected, the pressure we feel when someone relies on us not unlike the pressure in tennis when that volley arrives near you.     We are quick to judge our family members and best friends yet often give complete strangers the benefit of the doubt. We are quick to react to our own kids' misbehavior yet more forgiving and slow to anger when it's other people's children. We struggle to be better spouses, siblings and parents but easily manage to take up the task of being the best at work or sport. We are closer physically and emotionally to our loved ones...yet that comfort and ...