Real Life Secondary Characters
To celebrate, she hosting the Secondary Characters Blog Hop!!
Winners will receive critiques by the talented host and her co-hosts!
Co- Hosted by:
Theresa Paolo, Kelley Lynn, Jessica Salyer, Jenny Morris, and Suzy Retzlaff
Bonus winners of free books chosen by Kelley Lynn and Cassie Mae
Okay, so I'm supposed to pick some of my favorite secondary characters from books or movies.
Sounds easy enough-
BUT-
I'm brain fried. In the midst of trying to wrap up the final touches on the third book in the Coulter Men Series, I'm sitting here staring at a blank scene thinking, duh...oh, no was that a little drool?
Gross, I know. It's the last leg blues.
BUT- there's always another BUT-
I have this:
My "little" boy, Cole, is seeking a dream. He loves football. Has since he started playing when he was eight. He trains five days a week, twelve months a year. As his senior year approaches, he doesn't want to call it quits. He'd like to continue to play after high school.
Soooo...he has been putting together his DVD for college recruiters.
Now, what does this have to do with secondary characters?
When our kids are born, we are center stage. We make the decisions, the plans, the rules. Home is the hub of their universe. As they grow, their world's get bigger, the dreams become their own.
That leaves us parents to cheer from the sidelines. To watch and take the pictures. To offer the words of wisdom and direction the main characters use to stay on course as they move toward their happily ever after.
We are the secondary characters.
And every good writer knows, without those good, supportive secondary characters all you have is a flat tale that doesn't quite go the way you want it to go.
So, three cheers to the real life support cast!
*Since it's already public domain (which makes me nervous...what if a perv tries to kidnap my baby?!) and people assure me this is the way it's done- I'm going to share-
Here's my, um baby's video. It's rather long, but skip all the football stuff (and the addresses and phone numbers...geesh) and fast forward to the end for the weight training and tell me...can you believe I carried that boy on my hip?
As my astute cyber-twin, Mark Koopmans, pointed out...these guys aren't really my kids...they are now my security detail.
Here's Cole! He's #75. His little brother, Carter, is his spotter and is player #32 on the field.
Hi, Elizabeth...
ReplyDeleteTerrific analogy. I still can't believe you have a son as a senior in HS. Congrats to him and I hope his dreams of pro ball come true.
I have one already in college Michael! I'm still trying to figure out how that happened.
DeleteCole is still a Junior, so we have one more year to watch him in high school, then we shall see what happens. In this family, we chase our dreams without worrying about the odds.
Love this post! And you must be a proud Mommy. Lol! Yep, they work as security :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Tonja! I am very proud of my boys. They can be ornery, but they are good kids.
DeleteGo, little Hercules, go! Wow, I bet other players hate to see him coming. I'd run! :)
ReplyDeleteI had reservations about the whole college ball thing. I told his big brother I worried Cole would get hurt. Caleb laughed and said, "Mom, I don't think you realize how mean your Cole-E Bear is on the field."
DeleteStill hard to wrap my brain around. My baby is a sweetheart.
You better win a prize for this, so fun and original. Way to go girl and kids do deserve the spot light. Especially when they do right like your precious boys. I'm sure you shine from the sidelines Liz.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sheena-kay. I don't know about winning...there are always tons of great entires! I do try to do right by my boys. I'm not a perfect mom, but I love them and they are always first in my heart and my life.
Delete(And yes, I do shine on the sidelines with my fan mom wear)
Good luck to Rachel....My secondary characters are hardly likable but very believable I dare say :).
ReplyDeleteEvery good story needs at least one unlikable character!
DeleteAnd I wish Rachel all the luck in the world too. Hope she rocks it!
Wow,
ReplyDeleteI'm not in this blogfest, but what an *excellent* twist - 'cos it's so true.
Cole and the rest of your boys may have been on your hip, but now, as they grow and fly the coop, *you* gotta stay hip to what's going on in their lives as an "outsider."
It's scary, I know, but don't worry... they're smart lads and Mama will always be #1 :)
Gosh, does this mean you and I are tercery-characters?
You are the comedic side kick, for sure.
DeleteAnd I am truly blessed to get to see them fly the coop. That pleasure is denied to too many...let us never forget how blessed we are for each and every new day.
You're right Mark- not to brag, but they do love their mom. :)
That's a really sweet entry for the blogfest. And I jumped to the middle. He's a big boy now. I wouldn't mess with him!
ReplyDeleteI don't really see it. Logically, I know he's a beast of a boy, but to me, he always looks like the little guy who brought me the all the flower tops and occasionally a slug...ugh.
DeleteImpressive weights!
ReplyDeleteI've been realising I'm the secondary character for a little while now - even #2 son doesn't need as many cuddles as he used to, and it's normal for both kids to disappear to their bedrooms as soon as dinner's finished :-(
I was impressed, but then I bench forty pounds!
DeleteLittle by little they become their own people Annalisa. And it's a little sad, but then as their personalities start to shine and you just become amazed...these kids are real people! (That sounds weird, but whatever...it's true!)
Oh, I do love secondary characters. I think I pay more attention to and give more detail to my secondary characters than to my main ones!
ReplyDeleteAlso, 3 Ups is a go! Your "Upee" is QuEEn oF cOnTr@d!cT!on$ over at http://queenofcontradictions.blogspot.in/
No rush as to when you should give your Ups. Whenever you get a chance is fine :) :)
Good secondary characters are like the accents in a room...they give it the pizazz.
DeleteI think I know what a 3 up is...but I've never done it. I'll have to check it out.
Oh, it makes me sad to think I'm becoming that secondary character in my kids life. But I guess they have to grow up.
ReplyDelete500 pounds. Wow. I complain to my kids that I can't lift them anymore and they're under a hundred. I tell them I can still hold them on my lap though. Just need the support of a chair behind me.
Good luck to you son!
Sorry, that would be your son. I need to review before I hit publish.
DeleteLOL Suzi! I had to read the comment twice to catch where the correction needed to go. I fill in the sentence blanks without even being aware of it!
DeleteMy baby still fits on my lap...I can't breathe and my legs go numb, but I can do it!!
As a mom, I hadn't thought of being a secondary character, but it is the truth. New follower.
ReplyDelete~Summer
My Blog
That makes us the MC of our own and the secondary to theirs...which is as it should be. :)
DeleteElizabeth- I'm not sure if you realize what a football fanatic I am. (cause I am) I watched all of Cole's footage and I am particularly impressed with some of those tackles he made and then the sack (towards the middle of film) It looked like, the QB slid and took a knee as opposed to getting slammed by #75! Way to go Cole! And holy crow that's quite impressive lifting ability for a junior. He is certainly strong and only going to develop stronger as he grows and matures. Fingers crossed this footage gets in the right hands and his future in football is long and successful!
ReplyDeleteMy two nephews are 21 and 22, and both are well over six feet and stacked. I don't know how they grew up so quick! (And apparently they have become very popular with the ladies. Oy!) But I only see their baby faces staring back at me-and most likely, always will :)
I'll pass it on to him Jaybird. He acts like he doesn't like to be fawned over a little, but come on...we all need a little of it.
DeleteI love to watch the games, but I will admit, you are keener than me. Most of my boys are lineman and they're tough to watch once the ball is put in play. It's just a mangle of bodies in the trench. But I do know, if the line does their job well, the runner and the QB get to look good.
(As for the ladies, I've been very lucky...my boys are so sport and grade focused, girls are on their minds, but are not an obsession. If you ask them, they have no desire for a "relationship" until they hit their goals. Whew!)
Oh Elizabeth, you got me all teared up this morning! I don't want to think about my little ones getting all big and independent quite yet. :)
ReplyDeleteGood luck to your son!
It will be all right Rachel! I remember crying when my oldest walked...I knew that meant he was gaining mobility and could get away from mommy!! BUT...having teens and enjoying the young men my babies have grown into is just awesome. So, as much as I miss my little guys- I love the entertaining, wonderful young men they are growing to be.
DeleteSuper twist,. and I can see how it happens in my life as well. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it wonderful when a lazy mind works in your favor? Glad you enjoyed the twist. :)
DeleteWe've done similar videos for my softball daughter looking at colleges. We'll see. All the best to your son-- such an exciting time in life.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck to your daughter! And yes, it is an exciting time. :)
DeleteYour baby is NOT a baby anymore! Awesome video. At 6'1, 305 lbs I don't think you need to worry about someone kidnapping him! LOL. Great post though--you're so right. Our kids are the stars of the show and we're just supporting actors! Wouldn't have it any other way.
ReplyDeleteHis dad laughed at me when I worried about kidnappers.
DeleteI think being a the support to the stars is fine and dandy too!
Holy cow that's so amazing! And you're right, as parents we are the secondary characters, in the best way. Love it!
ReplyDeleteIt's a fun role to play :)
DeleteLove your analogy. As parents we are definitely the secondary characters in our kids' stories . . .and it's fun being the cheering section.
ReplyDeleteYour boys could definitely be your security detail . . .wow!
I suppose they could, but I still just see my little blue eyed baby.
DeleteWe were in a hotel outside of Cleveland, OH and my son went to the car to get something and I tagged along to "protect" him. Him and his brothers made fun of me for that!
Ha, I love the realization that we're the secondary characters now.
ReplyDeleteNow, if only I could get a make-up and wardrobe team to get me ready to play my part!
DeleteVery astute, Elizabeth. Great post!
ReplyDeleteThanks Emily :)
DeleteThat is so cool! Way to be a great secondary character. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Shallee!!
Delete*Takes deep breath* Arrrrgggghhh, another bloghop! Okay, that's better.....
ReplyDeleteElizabeth, your analogy on secondary characters is a very clever way of putting it. Of course, I have realised that I'm but a secondary character to Penny the Jack Russell dog and modest internet superstar!
"
Rachel Schieffelbein is about to be published! Her story will be in the soon-to-be-released Secondary Characters May 28th." Nice one, Rachel and I'm now officially one of your adoring fans.
Bloghops! Grrrrrr.....
Gary :)
You know you secretly love to hop around Gary! Hehe.
DeleteAnd yes, Penny is the spotlight character, you just hold her leash and keep her grounded.
Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah for real life secondary characters that are so important! Wonderful entry, Elizabeth. Tons of dragon hugs for you.
ReplyDeleteI feel all warm...and scaly- in the nicest of scaly senses ;)
DeleteI love Mark's take: Security Detail! Of course, having a security detail will be really useful when your rabid fans rush the stage at your book signings...
ReplyDeleteAnd that happens all the time! ;)
DeleteAWESOME! Three cheers indeed!
ReplyDeleteThanks Leigh! Love the new profile pic!
DeleteSuch an original and brilliant interpretation. :) Thank you for that.
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you! Not every day I get called brilliant!
DeleteCongrats to Rachel.
ReplyDeleteSecondary characters are an important part of a story.
I know you're proud. Good luck to your son.
I am...just a little :)
DeleteOh my this is so ture. I don't know how I'm going to feel the day my kids become all grown up and I become a secondary character. It's a bitter sweet feeling.
ReplyDeleteI always thought I'd have a heart attack when it happened, but it is so amazing to watch them grow up that it's really okay. Now if they were unhappy...then it would kill me!!
Delete