In Celebration of Fathers, Mothers, Special Care Givers and Their Sons

This past week, we celebrated the special relationships of fathers and mothers and those who assume these roles in the lives of our boys, in two of Saint David's traditions: the Seventh Grade Father-Son Book Talk and Dinner, and the Fifth Grade Mother-Son Chapel.

Held in the spring of seventh grade just as our boys begin planning the transition to their next school and when their families are engaging in conversations about life and "what comes next," the Father (or father figure)-Son evening features a book talk by an author and focuses on the power of supportive and loving relationships.

This year, we warmly welcomed Alum Ben Lindbergh '01, Regis and Georgetown graduate, staff writer for The Ringer and host of the Effectively Wild podcast for FanGraphs, to discuss The Only Rule Is It Has to Work, his book about his and fellow baseball analyst and co-author Sam Miller's adventure running an independent minor-league baseball team's operations using advanced statistics.  As he engaged with the seventh graders and dads present, Ben spoke enthusiastically of his time as a Saint David's student. He recalled how his two passions --"writing and baseball"-- were nurtured when he was a student here. That encouragement enabled him to forge a successful career marrying both.

The annual Fifth Grade Mother-Son Chapel gathers our fifth-grade boys and their mothers or mother figures for a special shared pre-Mother's Day experience; a Chapel Talk by a young alumnus who reflects upon the role his mother has played in his life. Teddy Roberts '19, a senior at Hackley who will begin studying at Georgetown in the fall, expressed gratitude for the preparation and love he has received from his mother throughout his life, crediting her for guiding him to be a good man. "It comes back to Saint David's and the values it teaches, and the positive influences at home," he said. "My mom has been with me every step of the way. Mom has provided me with all of the abilities I need to thrive."

We know from research that a boy's sense of connection to parents (parent figures) is the most important factor influencing his well-being; the second most important is a boy's sense of connection to his school. Providing these special occasions for our moms and dads (or the people who carry out these roles) to have shared meaningful experiences with their sons at Saint David's is a powerful way to enhance those connections. Ut viri boni sint.