Cooper was able to be home for the holidays Thanksgiving and Christmas. It was a wonderful time. It was a surprise bonus time we got to have because of Covid and the shutdowns in Minnesota were a bit more extreme than in North Carolina. We enjoyed having him back home and seeing how he has grown up into a young man. The only thing I have disapproved of since he has left has been his taste of music. I am not sure what that is even called.
He was greeted by a wet slobbery kiss and Rocky was so excited to see him he jumped into the van when we got home.
We were able to go to the zip line park and had a great day!
At first he was doing his laundry and keeping his room picked up but that quickly fell by the wayside but I didn't mind. I just was happy to have him back home and I took care of it again. Give him a break and let him be 14 again and spend time with his brothers and enjoy being home.
He was able to log into school and be remote. It was just like last year but his year he's got a "real teacher" not mom.
The shut down up north was frustrating and pushed the hockey season back yet again. Ice rinks closed even outdoor rinks. The gyms were closed again. The great thing for him he didn't lose anytime. He was able to come home and skate here and see some friends. He got to catch up with his old coach a bit. He was on the ice pretty much everyday and met a lot of other people in the same boat who were home from prep schools. We were able to workout together again and go running. I had missed my running buddy and workout partner! It was great to see him so committed. He didn't miss a day of running or working out. It was still nice weather here so he was still able to be outside. Finally the tarp we had hung up in the garage was getting used for hockey pucks. He and his brothers would go out there at night and just hang out. I missed seeing them together! They miss him when he is gone just as much as I do. They loved having him home.
We had a great Christmas together. Finally a Christmas at home. We haven't had that in five years or so. We had always travelled for hockey holiday tournaments in Canada or back to Minnesota for family Christmas. It was a nice relaxed Christmas morning opening gifts and dinner with friends before heading back.
We had a great time but he is ready to be back. He misses his friends and hockey in Minnesota. That has now become his "home". His life is up there now. He has made a couple of real close friends. He has learned some hard life lessons at 14 that relationships change over time and some people will always be there for you and some won't. He will find throughout school and hockey relationships are ever changing. You find out who you're true friends are over time. He has learned so much over this year that will be lessons he will have to learn throughout his life. On top of being a hard year during Covid the adversities he has had to overcome will make him one strong, determined, and mature 14 year old.
