Celebrating JJ: Free Throws and Early American History

Here we are in the month of August and I can't believe that my oldest son JJ will be heading off to his freshman year at Youngstown State University in less than two weeks.  When comparing life to a race, I feel like I am at the point where the Finish Line is in sight and I'm sprinting as fast as I can to the end.  Move in day is in sight and I'm throwing as many things at JJ as fast I can so that he can know and remember all of the tips and advice I've been trying to teach him for the past 18 years.  Brush your teeth.  Eat at least one fruit and veggie a day.  A firm handshake with eye contact is vital.  Wash your sheets once a week.  Take the stairs when you can. There's so much I want him to know!

High School Graduation
June 2018

JJ has been the subject of many of my blog posts over the years.  To remind myself that I have been teaching him about  making wise health choices and fitting fitness into his day, I looked back and re-read those blog posts.  I thought it would be fun to share them with you!

Here - from September 2013 when JJ was in 8th grade- is FREE THROWS AND EARLY AMERICAN HISTORY.

My family's To Do List is always filled with more tasks than we have time to complete.  This evening was no exception.

One of the most important things that JJ had to do tonight was study for his Early American History test.  After a day of sitting in school with no gym class, I really wanted him to get some exercise, too.  The more I thought about it, I realized there was no reason we couldn't combine the two tasks.   I just had to use a little creativity.

I had JJ review his study guide while I tackled some other items on the evening's To Do List.  Then we got in the car and headed for the gym.  Thankfully a basketball hoop was open.  While JJ warmed up, I set the ground rules.

1) For every Free Throw that JJ missed I would ask him a question from the study guide.
2) If he got the answer right, he attempted another shot.
3) If he got the answer wrong he had to do five jumping jacks and the question would be asked again later.
4) For every five questions that he missed, he had to run a suicide drill.

JJ made lots of baskets - but not all of them!  After getting several questions right, he missed one.  I think I surprised him when I actually made him do the jumping jacks! 

When we got to the last question, JJ had missed four questions.  If he got the last one wrong, he'd have to run . . . no suicide drill for JJ tonight! 

By the end of our study session, JJ had answered all of the questions on the study guide correctly AND had broken a sweat.  And I had crossed two things off of our To Do List.