Open House Season

Last weekend started the open house season for us.  This year we were invited to eight with most of them happening today.  My favorite part of the open houses are the pictures.  Most of these students are friends of the Heinisch children and we have watched them grow up.  Some we are closer to than others, but all hold fond memories in our lives.  Meg was able to pick out the drawing Deea was working on at Evan and Cameron's chess tournament at Purdue last year.  Brett was front and center in Nate Prescott's t-ball team photo of long ago.

Cal was by far in the most pictures of all of the open houses we went to this year.  That doesn't surprise me as he has spent a lot of time with Alex, Gage and Korey these past few years and has played golf with Tristen since the 3rd grade.  Graduation does not make me sad, however.  I always think of it as a  new beginning.  As I left the last open house tonight I realized that life will change for Cal next year.  He has made some close friends in this year's senior class.  He is ready to be a senior himself, however, and I know he will make the most of it.

Friendship

I know I have written many times about Cal and the bond he has with his friends, but it just never ceases to amaze me how close they really are.  They were with him pretty much all day yesterday from the start of his sectional round through the scary movie of the evening helping him through one of the biggest disappointments of his golfing career.  He was still frustrated today, but once Alex and Jayce came over he was able to have some fun - croquet, fishing and playing along on a Chase Myers vs. Jayce Boatwright golf showdown at Raccoon Run.

By the end of the evening he was able to tell us exactly how he felt and his thoughts of yesterday.  We don't blame him for feeling disappointed.  It was tough to except.  We are impressed, however, with how well he has handled it and how much his friends have rallied behind him.  They are one awesome group.  I know the dynamics will change next year with Alex going to college, but for now it is just enjoyable to witness their camaraderie and hear their laughter.

A Bitter Pill

Today was the boys high school golf sectional.  Cal teed off at 8:50 and Dad was there to see him start.  Cal admitted to being very nervous and it showed as he bogeyed the first three holes.  He said that it actually helped him as he calmed down and realized that he would be ok.  He knew he hadn't had a double and by then Jayce, Cameron, Kyle, Gage and Elizabeth joined his gallery.  He relaxed and had nine straight fours after that.

Hole thirteen looked like trouble for him, but an "easy" chip in for par saved his score.  By the time Cam, my Mom, Meg and I showed up, Cal was six over and in a great mood.  Meg decided to wait out the five holes at the Fitzgeralds, but the rest of us hung around the putting green and scoreboard keeping track of team and individual scores.  Columbia City was the leader when we arrived at 303 with Plymouth a close second at 305.  The next best was Warsaw's 315.  Wawasee made the turn at 156 which put them at a great position to finish in the top three and move on to regionals next week.

Everyone in the Wawasee camp was excited as Mason finished with an 80.  That was a great score for the fourth player and we all knew Cal was playing well also.  I was never really worried about Warsaw.  I was sure that we would beat 315 without a problem as we won the Joe Harris shoot out with a 308.  Cal bogeyed four holes on the back, but made a knee-knocker putt on 18 to finish at 78.  All was looking great.  The only real concern was Culver Military Academy.  They knocked us out last year and I was very worried about the same scenario.  Tristen finished with a 77.  All we needed was Jeffrey to shoot a 79.  It looked like no problem as he was six over after 15 holes.  That was when the news came crashing in.  Jeffrey had triple bogeyed sixteen and double bogeyed 17.  Even with a birdie on the last hole Wawasee would still finish in the dreaded fourth place by the fifth man score.

I couldn't believe it.  Two years in a row finishing fourth - one place out of a regional birth.  There was still hope, however, as Cal was tied for third low for those qualifying as individuals.  There was only one team left that could have someone beat him out, so Cal and the guy he tied from Warsaw started practice putting.  As he and his friends got ready for the playoff I delivered the fateful news.  Someone from Northfield came in with a 71 putting Cal at fourth - one shot out of an individual regional spot.  It was heartbreaking to say the least.  Cal had had so much support from his friends and family.  He had practiced a lot over the past week or more, but in the end it just wasn't meant to be.  Cal handled it very well.  He knew he had played the best that he could and had put forth his best effort.  That made it a little easier to swallow, but a bitter pill none the less.

So Many Words, So Much Mispoken

I noticed since I went back to teaching full time (80% time) I am constantly misspeaking.  I don't know why and most of the time I do not even catch it.  I call students by the wrong name continually.  Most of them take it in stride unless I call them the name of someone they do not like.  I've even heard them say to each other - "No big deal - Mrs. Heinisch does that to everyone - just go with it."

I know the reason that I am doing this is because I am tired and busy between school and keeping up with the Heinisch family.  My brain is working faster than my mouth and for the most part it is "no big deal."  Doug and the Heinisch children have noticed it at home as well.  They either make fun of me or correct me depending on the situation.  It hasn't been a problem until yesterday.  Cam and Meg had been all over Kohl's  and Target looking for a new comforter set with me.  We had noticed that a few came with dust ruffles, others with sheets and some with just pillow shams.  I finally found one that I like.  As Cameron went to pick the set up for me I said, "Check to make sure we don't need to buy our own shits."  Cam gave me this look and it dawned on my what I said.  After I corrected myself with, "Sheets, I mean sheets!"  Cam replied, "I was pretty sure we didn't need to buy the other!"  Still laughing about it.  Hopefully, that doesn't happen again!!!!

Not arrested, didn't join the army, doesn't own a motorcycle!

Meg asked me about our parenting philosophy the other day while we were driving to Warsaw.  She noticed that for the most part we do not ground the Heinisch children or scream and yell at them.  In general we try to include them in discussions on activities that affect them.  We like them to make a lot of their own decisions providing them support when they need it.  Doug calls it "failing in a safe environment."   Thus, in the Heinisch home they are free to be, but never free from the consequences of their choices.

This doesn't mean that we do not have high expectations for them.  They all know that academics come first.  At the beginning of each trimester or semester we talk with them about a realistic GPA with the classes they have.  We also expect a high work ethic and for them to treat each other with respect.  We try very hard not to micromanage all that they do.  We realize that they will learn more from their own mistakes than being told what to do constantly.  We also encourage them strongly to try new things and adventure past the norm.  

I know there are others who do not agree with us.  There are some that believe that children have to be told what to do.  I receive a lot of unsolicited parent advice from "well-meaning" adults who are sure we must need help.  As I watch the Heinisch children succeed and fail all the time knowing they are loved, I become more and more comfortable with our type of parenting.  I believe it is our job to help them become who they want to be never who I insist they should be.  So, if you hear me say to Meg, "Not arrested, didn't join the army, and doesn't own a motorcycle," know that she or one of her brothers did something that others may not completely approve of or understand.  It was one more lesson in life that they needed to learn on their own.  

Btw - just to clarify - nothing wrong with joining the army or buying a motorcycle, just means that I don't have to worry as much!

A Great Summer Visit

My parents left Sunday afternoon for Bloomington to visit Brett for a couple of days.  They were anxious to see his apartment and how he has been living the last few weeks.  They were able to try a few restaurants, do a little shopping and even made the trek to Shelbyville to see the office that Brett interns in.  I know that they had a really good time from the posts on Facebook.  The air mattress didn't quite work out, but they couldn't complain about the price of a room.

They headed back this afternoon once Brett finished with his interview at Hartzell's and trying their ice cream.  Brett's definitely been looking hard for a job, but so far hasn't come up with one.  It sounds like most businesses do not need summer help, but instead are looking to start hiring for the fall once July starts.  Glad that his internship, friends, Parce and RUF are keeping him busy this summer.  This was always our favorite time of the year in Bloomington.  It's nice to have Brett experience that as well.  We plan to catch up with him in a couple of weeks also.  Hope he doesn't mind company!!

This is More Comfortable Than it Looks

Yesterday afternoon Doug, Cam and I went mattress shopping.  We threw ours away last week and have been using the full size one from the basement.  Ours was older than Cameron and was so warped and misshapen that it was extremely hard to sleep in it anymore.  Cam had a lot more fun shopping than he ever dreamed he would.  The place that we stopped at had adjustable queen size beds where both the feet and head could be raised along with a massage feature.  As Doug and I were checking out all of the different features, firmness and textures of the different mattresses Cam stuck to the adjustable ones.  At one point I looked over and he said, "This is surprisingly more comfortable than it looks."  I thought he looked like a sandwich, but he enjoyed it.

After shopping yesterday and finding out the prices of various mattresses Doug and I decided to replace Meg's mattress instead.  She said that it was too firm for her and it is only a year old.  So today she, Cam and I went to another mattress store.  She found the perfect one for her and once they told us they could deliver it today we rushed home to clean rooms and get ready for the switch.  I was impressed that the three of us could get the box spring off of my bed and into the dumpster before Stuckman's came.  Luckily, Cal was home for a little bit, so he got the mattress downstairs for us.  The dust under my bed was incredible.  I also sat in amazement of all of the boxes I had kept and stored under there.  Meg didn't have anything to get out from under her bed, but her room needed picked up.  We did it all with about forty-five minutes to spare before they arrived.  Can't wait to sleep in a new bed tonight and knowing that it was $4000 cheaper than what we looked at yesterday.