I posted last week about my son Grant entering an essay contest, the winner of which would spend a half-inning in the TV broadcast booth of a Diamondbacks game. The official rules said that they would notify the winner by the 14th. As Monday evening came, we all realized sadly that Grant hadn’t won, and Grant set his sights on two months from now, which is the next contest he’d be able to enter.
Yesterday, I had a couple of appointments and a couple of errands, and had left the kids with a babysitter. On my way home, I received a very high-pitched, fast-talking phone call from Grant. “I WON!!!!” he shouted into my ear.
It’s true. They were running a bit behind, and didn’t notify Grant until yesterday.
Right after that, we were on our way to Ethan’s baseball game, and Grant called Martin (my husband) to tell him, and I heard him say, in semi-hushed tones, “I think Mom will be upset, but I want you to go with me.” Shucks. He explained to me, “I just think it would be better for a guy to go to a game with his Dad.” Oh, well.
ETA: But, FSN called again this morning, and the guy told me that we actually get four tickets (but only two press passes), so Ethan and I can go, too. I already got a babysitter for Wes & Audrey. :D Also, we were surprised to learn that Grant will get a D’backs jersey. AND, the Arizona Republic (the state’s largest paper) is sending a reporter and photographer who will trail Grant for the game, and do a big write up on it! Cool! Grant will get to go (with Martin) to the FSN production truck for a couple innings, to see how they coordinate the telecast, and then he’ll get to go up to the TV broadcast booth for the whole 7th inning, and be on air for the bottom of the 7th. YAY!! to all of that.
Now, I’m struck with a bit of anxiety over the realities of my son revealing his mouth on TV. Countless times, people have come up to me and said, “You’ll never believe what Grant said.” Usually, it’s something interesting, or intriguing, or surprising, in that it came from the mouth of an eight-year-old. However, he is also prone to make absolutely preposterous statements — usually wild theories that he’s latched upon as the absolute truth. He can also get extremely boastful. I’ve been giving thought as how to gently caution and direct him, without squashing his extreme excitement….
