[devil58]

Hey DEVIL58,,, As a parent I allow my son to have input on what he wants,,,, my choice to do so.... BUT you know if you give a kid a choice and watch his reaction then you really learn alot about him..... He has been asked at least once a day from kids here and kids there if he was transfereing schools.. I left the decision up to him...... He has friends in both places and yes he loves to play all sports.. That is why he has made his final decision and and to no surprise to anyone he is going to stay right where he is.. This situation has been a great learning experience for him and he has had to deal with peer pressure from both sides,, nice learning experience with weighing the positives and negatives.....
KNowing that with options come responsibilty, what to do and what really counts. I had no doubt that he was staying right where he is.... KNew all the time... BUT I made him really think of why he would go to Raceland the benefits and what was at stake. He knew that if transferred this year that it was for the long haul and no coming back to Russell. As you know I was not for the current JFL change but I will live with the board decision and make the best of.. I will offer my support and make sure that every kid I have contact with will learn the most about football and the system that RUSSELL.

So for all of the people who email me and call and text if he is leaving,, HE IS STAYING RIGHT WHERE HE NEEDS TO BE !!!!!!!! AT HOME!!!!!

When you explain the whole process like that it makes very good sense and I agree with the process you described above..When you simply state you left the decision to him, alarms go off in my relatively large head and that creates quite an echo in there...LOL

Having open dialogue in the house and allowing kids to have input (not necessarily the FINAL decision) can create a very healthy family relationship because, like you stated, they have to think about everything before they make their choice...Most kids live in the moment and don't think long term...Hopefully, when the process is over they come to the same conclusion as we, the parents, do...If that happens, let them feel like you "allowed" them to make the choice...It helps their self-esteem and makes them feel like their opinion is important...But, we do always maintain the executive right of the VETO...If you can see that the ramifications of their decision are minor, let them take the hit even if you would suggest they do something else...Great life lesson to be learned there...But, if you know that it is totally wrong, then out of love you have to make the final decision for them but use it as a continuing learning experience...From time to time you will have situations arise where you can remind them of how things would have turned out worse had they been allowed to make the final choice...Again, as they mature they will see things with "older" eyes and understand better why we make some of their choices...

Glad he's staying...Have him use his leverage to keep more from leaving to join little brother where there is an epidemic of "Devil Envy"... :biggrin:

I was also told that the father of the one who is transferring due to both parents working at Raceland now told Kidwell that his boy really didn't want to leave and that if he's still not happy at the end of the school year, he will be allowed to come back and graduate with his friends and classmates...Interesting huh?? I'll take a we'll see attitude with that one...Would love to see it happen though...That kid's a player...