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Home › Diaries › Shel › November 27, 2006

Shel's Diary Entries

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So OVERDUE!

November 27, 2006

(THIS WAS WRITTEN ABOUT A MONTH AGO!)

Let me start by saying that I love being a wife, I love being a mother, I love being a writer and I love being a football fan. Yesterday, all of those things I love so dearly came rushing together in one incredible moment.

My 10-year-old son was chosen as a guest reporter for a children's sports-focused television show. We traveled to the Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers' practice facility in Pittsburgh, Pa., so that he could interview a player and tape a segment for the show.

The week leading up to the big event was a writers dream. Even though this was his gig, I felt like I was preparing for the interview of a lifetime. It was all I could do to hold myself back and let him take the reigns each evening as we deliberated over the best questions to ask, how to deliver the question and tips to make the interviewee – and my son – more comfortable and open.

Every night, as I tucked him into bed, he would tell me how excited he was, and then he would admit that he was nervous. "That's good." I would say. "Nerves are good. They keep you sharp. We all get nervous." Sometimes he would ask me about my nerves and how they were affected during various interviews. I shared stories about botching interviews with world-famous researchers and swapping parenting tips with a cover girl-turned mom, but somehow I knew his experience would mean more than all of mine rolled into one.

My husband, a Pittsburgh Steelers fan since childhood, and I would periodically jab each other in the arms and say, "Our son is going to interview a professional football player! He's going to be on TV!" And then we would giggle like little kids. It was hard not to look into each other's eyes and feel such excitement for this child we created – feel like somehow we owned a small portion of it.

When we finally arrived at the facility, we were all speechless. It's hard to describe the emotions – it's so overwhelming it's hard to remember. The first players we saw were Hines Ward and Ben Roethlisberger, walking to the locker room from the practice field. It was surreal. In true team leader fashion, Ben raised his hand above his head and yelled, "Hey you guys! Watch your mouths. There are kids in the hallway." (Thanks Ben!)

After that, we had front row seats to a little after-practice pick-up game, featuring the likes of Joey Porter and Troy Polumalo. Amazing. Like big kids playing in the backyard after school, they hooted and hollered after each touchdown or dropped catch. My son sat starry-eyed.

Eventually it was show time. My son interviewed Kendall Simmons, and he had an autograph session with Heath Miller as well.

I had such an amazing feeling -- from a mom's perspective. When I shook Heath Miller's hand, all I could think about was how proud his mom must be. :) Talk about feeling old. LOL! There was a time when I would have looked up at those big blue eyes and thought, "I'll never wash this hand again!" And now I'm thinking, "Wow! How cool it must be for your mom to hug you now and think, 'I gave birth to this!'"

I know I am partial, but my son was a natural in front of the camera. He smiled, had fun, and his interviewee had fun too. In the interview, my son asked Simmons about his biggest fan. Simmons said it's his 2-year-old daughter. He went on to explain how she runs up to the TV and yells, "Run Daddy! Run real fast!" He was beaming when he told the story, and it made me realize how these guys are so just dads and sons and brothers. All the hours talk radio spends bashing them and their performances, and they are long gone -- home with their families, just like you and me.

Last night, I asked my son what he wanted to be when he grew up. A small part of me hoped that after his experience, he would say a journalist. Instead, he pulled a peewee-size leather football out from underneath the covers and said, "A football player." I should have known. :)



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