I'm the kind of mom who doesn't hide the news from my kids.
Most days.
Yesterday, I actually hid the newspaper when the headline was "Doc Death Mystery". There's no reason for my kids to have to think about a mom who partied all night and died from an apparent drug overdose.
But today when my 7-year-old son, Jaylan, picked up the paper outside my door I couldn't cover up what he saw. And if I did, he would have heard about it minutes later on Sportscenter. "CC On The Rocks. Yank star in rehab for booze", it read.
Jaylan didn't even have to read it fully to know that one of his baseball hero's was in trouble. He didn't know the life lesson he was about to learn. In just that moment, my son would learn about alcoholism.
Jaylan: "Mom, what happened to CC?"
Me: "Good question honey. He has a problem with drinking too much alcohol and it wasn't good for him so he's going to a place where he can learn to stop drinking so it can make his life better.
Jaylan:"But he's over 21..."
But he's over 21. Brilliant, I thought. So I took the opportunity to explain more.
Me: "Jay you are right. But if you drink too much, it's not good for you. And it could be bad."
Jaylan: "So what is he doing?"
Me: "Well. He is going to get help. He is going to work with people like doctors who will help him so he can not drink where it's bad for him and his family."
So whatever comes out, whatever CC has been battling and whatever happened to get him to where he is now, instead of pitching for the Yankees in the playoffs, he just taught my son a few valuable lessons in a way that he understands. CC won't be playing baseball. Any kid can get that. It doesn't matter how old you are. And doesn't matter that 21 makes somethings ok.
Life, health and family are more important than any job. That's a grand slam in my home.