Amazing Mom...

It was one of those phrases that was heard a million times growing up in the Gahan household with 4 boys running around:


"Someday you'll have kids of your own and then you'll understand!"


Since we've had Grayson I must have said to myself a thousand times..."How did my mom do it?" Gray isn't even able to talk back yet and he certainly doesn't have three brothers to add to the mix, so it makes the fact that my mom survived raising four kids even more incredible to me...

She covered all the basics with military-like efficiency...a GREAT cook with a diverse menu, a time-management extraordinaire that got every one of us to every practice, meet, match, recital, etc...did laundry for the whole family and still managed to keep our kitchen floor clean enough to actually eat on it...I could go on and on. Really...she did it all, and she did it all WELL.

Lucky for me (us), she had way more than the basics covered too though... Unlike some of my friends growing up, I had a great relationship with my mom. I was never afraid to confide in her, even during my adolescence, is which pretty rare I think. I remember crying my eyes out on her lap after I screwed up a relationship with my first love. She was there supporting me in every situation I can ever remember, and I credit her with teaching me that I need to be myself to be happy, and that other people's opinions don't matter as much as I thought they did. If something made me feel good (like singing in choir and dancing or whatever), then I should do it, regardless of how "uncool" it was...that is a lesson that I've been able to apply in life over and over again, and I am a better man for it today.

While I was able to keep that relationship strong for so long, it did start to wain as I moved on into college and even afterwards. I mostly believe that it had something to do with me wanting to assert some independence, so I would be short with her or became easily frustrated when she pushed to help with something. From what I can tell now, it was for me at least, another phase of maturity that I had to travel through. Having a son/daughter of your own tends to make you reflect about certain things, and finding the perspective of a parent has been a big deal for me. It is the perspective that my mom warned me about on so many times ;)

I regret that I stepped away from you for that period mom, and while the geographical distance remains to be greater than either of us desire, I look forward to being able to talk to you when Grayson (and maybe someday his brother/sister) causes me to think..."How did my mom ever do it?"...

Love you,

Happy Mother's Day!

Blue and Gold Game at Notre Dame!

Tickets to game...$12...South Bend Souvenirs...$100...plane tickets to Michigan...$200...watching your son break down in tears every time Papa enters the room...priceless!

Well, I had a great time in Michigan visiting my family with Gray! Watching him play with Kennedy was awesome, but the other cousins proved to be a bit bigger than little man was ready for...:) Something tells me he had a great time playing with all their toys though...;) Look who's starting to pose!

It was great that my mom got some time with him, and he seemed to be ok with Jackie too. Unfortunately my dad and brother Kevin didn't get the same treatment, as Grayson hid his head in my chest or broke down in tears whenever they got too close. I felt so bad! I know it probably doesn't make you feel any better Pop, but Ed Kearney doesn't fare too much better!

Grayson got his first opportunity to hang at a tailgate and then see the good guys in the Golden Helmets come running out of the tunnel. Although it was just an intersquad scrimmage you could see some significant changes in how this Fighting Irish squad will be run. Plays zip into the huddle and then are executed much more quickly than in years past and it was fun to see a fresh offense. Although there is alot of inexperience on this team in places you would rather have none, I couldn't help come away excited and impressed with what I saw.

Here is Gray in a car seat that he saw way too much of on this trip...

I wish I was better with my camera on this trip!