The Emotions of Fatherhood

I experienced two very different emotions yesterday.

First, my ballerina/blogger daughter Shelby rocked her knee pretty good at recess yesterday. Sure. Kids do that. But this one required x-rays and such. It wasn't so much that, but the fact that when you're a ballerina in full-throttle mindset of practicing for three different recitals, and a broken bone would not only endanger that possibility but also jeopardize time-table goals she's set for herself...well, it was a strange emotion. Anxiousness for her knee, sure...but more a concern for her mental processes. We'll get the "official" reading of the x-ray today, but everything points to a severe bruise. Shelby seems in good spirits about it all, and may even enjoy the week off from dance.

Then, last night, my daughter's softball team wasn't playing as expected in the first two innings. Trailing 8-3, they made a furious comeback in the last two innings and softball/blogger daughter came up to bat with the bases loaded and the Blast trailing 8--7. Two strikes. Then, she ripped one up the middle for a single and the two runners scored--a clean single with no errors. Then, in the top of the last inning she made a great throw from the outfield (she was the shortstop cutting off the throw) and just missed getting a runner out at the plate. Her team won 10-9, but that fact really is irrelevant. She was in good spirits on the way home, complete with not being able to sleep due to the excitement of getting a hit in the clutch.

This fatherhood stuff gets more difficult emotionally as your kids age...I can't imagine what my emotions will be doing when they start driving and/or dating or if the games aren't in the rec league or if the auditions are for higher stakes...