I haven’t done any Trevy Tru posts in so long, but I just wanted to get a few photos up.
Tru really enjoyed fourth grade. He had some challenges with some really difficult classmates in third grade, but he was in a brand new classroom for fourth. He really thrived and made some great new friends. He often worked on projects and played at recess with Oliver, Caleb, Finn, and Conner. I was nervous about him being one of the youngest in a mix of fourth through sixth graders, but Tru thrived. I think, if anything, the mixed classroom helps the sixth graders to “just stay kids” more than it forces the fourth graders to grow up too fast. Tru still believes in Santa and the tooth fairy. In fact, he just recently wrote a letter to the tooth fairy apologizing for accidentally throwing one of his teeth in the trash (and he mentioned it was in “excellent condition”)!
His teacher Ali absolutely loves camping, sports, and the outdoors, which is so perfect for Tru. She got the class outside for projects and games as much as possible and Tru, of course, loved that.
One of my favorite memories from fourth grade was doing Community Lunch in February. Chris and I both helped Tru, Finn, and another classmate prepare lunch for the whole class. We did a pasta bar with meat sauce, pesto, Alfredo, chicken, and broccoli, plus garlic bread and cupcakes for dessert. Tru said it was a favorite for him as well.
Tru also did a one-night overnight class canoeing trip in the fall. And a two-night class camping trip to Kroka Adventures in the spring. I can’t really describe the anxiety I feel when he’s away from me for so many hours with zero communication. The hours I spent trying to prepare everything he’d need for the camping trip! But Tru thrived with both trips. He seemed to really gain confidence in his independence.
Tru continues to absolutely thrive with math. He also continues to love engineering and gym class. But it’s tough to get him to read. “Lit Circle” was his most dreaded classroom activity. I have to really push him to ever pick up his assigned reading. One thing he’ll always agree to do is to read in bed before lights out. Because he’ll do anything to stay up a little later! Bedtime is a battle every night! If Tru had his way, he’d be up until 10.
On a sad note, we said goodbye to sweet Calvin in April. Tru took it really hard. I decided it was right to just tell Tru the whole truth about how sick Cal had become. Since he’s now ten years old, I thought it would be best to have Tru present for the at-home euthanasia. In my heart, I feel like I did the right thing, having our whole family surrounding Cal-Cal at his passing. We made his last day so special. We put together a photo album, wrote letters to Cal, took him to the beach and the nature trail for a walk. Tru and I even made him the special “pupcakes” recipe I invented for him when he was a puppy. Although Cal didn’t have much appetite left, he rallied and enthusiastically gobbled up the cupcake Tru fed to him.
Only a few weeks ago, Tru got out of bed around 10pm crying. He said he’d heard a Luke Combs song on the radio that made him think of Calvin. I held him and told him the song (“even though I’m leavin’, I ain’t goin’ nowhere”) was true, Cal was still with him. It breaks my heart that in many cases in life, there’s simply nothing we can do as parents to ease our children’s pain.
On a brighter note, as soon as Cal passed, we started seeing a beautiful bluebird in the yard at our feeder. I rarely see bluebirds, so it truly felt like a sign from Calvin. We did a family meeting with an animal communicator and she said “Cal is showing me a bluebird!” My jaw dropped, she was so spot on. So that made the bluebird visits extra special.
The summer after fourth grade, Trevor really developed a strong interest in baseball. He pitched in several games and loved it. He demonstrated some great skill, with a lot of strike-outs. He often played second or third base and even hit a home run in one game! He decided to quit soccer, at least for the upcoming fall. He’s also lost a lot of interest in basketball. I notice that, with intense team sports like soccer and basketball, Tru tends to shy away from the ball. I’m not sure if he’s nervous about getting hurt or afraid of making a mistake. Maybe it’s a combination of both, or something else entirely.
Golf remains Tru’s number one love. When I asked him what he wanted to do for camps this summer he said, “I want to golf all summer!” Unfortunately, our golf club canceled the KE Camps program he attended the summer before fourth grade. So Chris had to cobble together a schedule that involved major steps toward independence for Tru. I’d drop him off for the youth golf camp that went from Tuesday-Thursday from 9-12. Then he’d get lunch – sometimes alone and sometimes with a friend from golf camp – at the club. Lunch was usually cheese pizza or a burger, an Arnold Palmer, and a chocolate chip cookie (I’d often find a bit of pizza sauce or smeared chocolate on his golf clothes). Then he’d spend a bit of time putting and hitting on the range and doing a solo golf lesson, and I’d pick him up around 2 or 2:30. Since he was on his own for parts of the day, we got him an Apple Watch so he could text us. As much as I don’t want him to have access to so much technology so young, it’s really reassuring to be in touch with him. So he’ll probably wear it to school for fifth grade in case Chris or I need to text him about pick-up or anything. The summer felt chaotic because we never had a clear schedule. But he got his dream of a summer of golf!
Tru’s competed in and even won many local golf tournaments this year. He could fill a bookshelf with all his medals and trophies. He’s earned a spot in the Drive Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier in New York in October. He had to place in the top two for the first two rounds to make it. I’m so proud of how dedicated he is. He has so much determination and passion, which can be wonderful and can also be awful. He’s so very hard on himself, saying “I suck” with even one shot that doesn’t go how he’d hoped. He’s looked up what the best kids in the nation score at big competitions and holds himself to those impossibly high standards. I haven’t found anything to say that helps. I can only hope that over time, some of my advice will start to make sense or sink in.
I’ve included photos from KE Camps at the golf club from the summer before fourth grade. I’ve also included photos from Kroka Adventures from his fourth grade class trip. There’s a photo from his Maudsley Friday class group. A couple photos from his baseball season. Plus a couple from the week-long Pat Connaughton basketball camp he attended in the early part of the summer.
And to explain the last photo: Tru said he wanted to try sky diving this summer, and Chris found a way to make it happen! He found an indoor sky diving experience and Tru loved it!
Hopefully moving forward, I’ll remember to do more frequent updates!
