Freshman year

I picked up Bradley from football and he handed me his picture packet. (yes, all ready!) I took out the 8x10 and I looked at it.

And looked at it.

And looked at it.

Not only can I believe he is a freshman all ready, I can't believe how confident he looks in this picture.

I think back to when I was in the 9th grade and I think about him and we are so different in many aspects.

Entering 9th grade....
...I went to 8 years of catholic grade school.
...He went to public school for the last 8 years.

...I knew almost no one in the new "big" school.
...He knows almost everyone.

...I was so shy, intimidated and felt all alone.
....He is confident and doesn't care what anyone thinks.

...I didn't participate in any extra-curricular activities until the end of my 9th gr. year.
...Not only is he in football, he has been asking about wrestling and FFA.

...I would have been embarrassed to talk to my parents about "sex" and those kind of things
...He talks openly about it and even told me some locker room talk last night on the way home. (I think I could have done without some of the info) :-)

So many differences, yet we get along so well. I am so proud of him. He really is a good kid. I don't know what the rest of his 9th grade year has in store. I just hope he lives each day the best he knows how!!!!