Sweet Home Hansons: October 2018

Maxwell's been away at school for two months now. I wish I could say that he's eased into college and has loved every minute. He didn't though and he hasn't. He's loved some of it, but definitely not all of it. Being away from home has been hard for him. He's felt the weight of college life and responsibilities heavy on his shoulders. I think each day has brought a different feeling for him. Some days he sounds like a strong, young man who's ready to take on the world, and other days he sounds like a young eighteen year old trying to navigate a windy road by himself.

It's funny that your kids' college life is a lot like your kids' preschool life. When you have a preschooler you want to compare your kid to everyone else's even though all the books you've read say that every kid is different. That kid over there is reading already. That kid can tie his shoes already. That kid can pee directly into the toilet already. My kid, on the other hand still thinks a cow says "woof". Still eats play-doh and will probably go to high school wearing pull-ups.

What the heck is wrong with my kid??!

This whole college kid thing isn't much different. Everyone else's kid seems to be sailing through this first semester like they've been doing it their entire lives. They've all found their place and they don't need any help from back home.

The more I talk to friends who have college freshmen though, the more I know that not everything is as it seems. Not everyone's kid is sailing through, and in a strange way, it makes me feel better that Maxwell's not the only one that has had to really work through this transition.

Moose is finding his way though. Seeing him this past weekend was exactly what he, Henry and I needed. He wanted to eat, sleep, take a bath and repeat. We had some really honest talks about what he worries about (which is waaaaay too much) and what he's excited about. I met some of his new teammates who have completely rallied around him and understand that he's really, really far from home. They and Maxwell's coaches are the perfect support system for him right now.

We miss him like crazy, every single day, but we're also pretty dang excited to see the amazing things that are coming his way.

Moose, go be awesome.

Some of my favorite recent snap chats from Maxwell...

Before the team left for their first scrimmage...

The two lax Max's...

thankfully mine has since shaved off that ridiculous mustache!

Hanson #2...

the first fall ball scrimmage in Muhlenburg, PA

Moose was the first freshman to score in the scrimmage...

talk about a confidence boost!

It was so nice to take a road trip with just Henry.

I think his college life experience is going to be much different than Maxwell's.

I really think Hen would go to college tomorrow if he could!

We got watch an early morning (cold) practice

Lycoming College

Family Weekend 2018

Last weekend we were in Destin...about 4 days before Hurricane Michael hit. Destin was spared but not 40 miles east, there was total devastation. On Monday when we left we saw all of the boats being pulled out of the water and secured on land. It was a little eerie...folks seemed to really know what was coming. For the long weekend that we were there though, the weather, the water and the company were perfect.