This has been a break out year for The Girl. Though years training and watching us compete, she is now coming into her own and finding her athletic niche. In addition to her time training in the gym with us, this past spring she started throwing shot and discus. She quickly learned that she is pretty good at them, enjoys doing it and has found her competitive spirit.
This summer she has decided to step up her game a bit and compete in USA Track & Field (USATF) meets, start learning HOW to throw and is working with a weightlifting coach as well. She has hopes of also competing in a USA Weightlifting meet this fall, however a decision for that will be made as the meet draws near.
At this stage of the game, it is obvious that her strength is carrying her to success and she reports wanting to transition from good to great. This transition is proving to consume an extensive amount of time and commitment that in some ways I believe is too much for her. However, as long as she wants to ride this ride, we will be there supporting her and mitigating the compromises and sacrifices. If tomorrow she wants off this ride, that is a decision she has full control over.
*Catch up with part 1 of Passing The Baton: Tears of a Clown, here.*
Summer quickly approached and training and kicking continued. The Boy was just spending time in the saddle. As the start of the season approached, The Boy was getting very nervous. In April his kicking style had changed and his fundamentals were flawless. It was also that point we can relate to in lifting when you make a major change to technique, things back slide until they move forward and beyond.
He went to the Boise State kicking camp and got excellent feedback. The fundamentals were fantastic, he just needed to continue doing his thing and the distance would come back. The monkey mind was in full effect and he was nervous.
In his mind he wasn't sure he was good enough to make an unequivocal statement that he was the man for the job. He was getting time in on defense but as it has always been, his only goal was to be starting kicker. His punts were booming, his field goals, fantastic. Kick offs, on point. Private kicking coach felt like he had everything he needed to be starting varsity kicker at most other programs and believed in him. However, the only coaches that mattered were the team's coaches. His mind was waiting for the shoe to drop and to hear that he wasn't good enough.
The only piece left for him was FOR HIM to believe in himself. He was receiving what in his mind were mixed messages regarding his abilities and opportunities. It was at this point he had to step up and start advocating for himself to his coaches.
The first game approached and he felt as though he was going to be starting kicker. His career has been so full of heart ache that we didn't want to get our hopes up for him. We weren't sure WHAT we would tell him if things didn't work out as he had hoped. Work hard, pay your dues, get stronger, get faster, nail the fundamentals, use your passion to drive you to excellence. He did those things but WHAT IF? What if it wasn't enough? Not for his ability, but for others to see he was capable and deserving.
We arrived to the opening game, found some seats in the bleachers and saw The Boy running out on the field. A big smile rushed across my face and my heart started to beat quickly. This was his moment.
The season started with The Boy kicking off and HE NAILED IT. It was at that point I lost it and started crying. THIS was his moment. The one moment he had been waiting and working for all these years. This one kick will go down in his history book and will be difficult to match in importance.
This was the moment he was given an opportunity and a chance. Someone did believe in him. This was the day that frustration, heart break, hard work, discipline, humility all converged to help him reach his goal and validate himself. He went on to get many kicks that game and killed it.
I still think back to the game last week and each and every time, tears well up in my eyes. It is hard being the under dog, it is hard wanting something so badly and adversity kicking your butt each and every time. Crazy Mom couldn't do a thing for him through this journey. This was HIS lesson to learn, his tears and sweat to put in. And his joy and validation.
I spend a large amount of time writing about athletics and my kids. Sometimes I struggle with it being elitefts log appropriate and relevant but there is a greater relevance here than just sports. These are the experiences that shape who our kids become as people and how they remember us at parents. We were supportive? Were we critical? Did WE believe in them? Do they know we believe in them? If we don't believe in them, who will? Are our expectations realistic? How much are we willing to do to support THEIR goals? Once they independently discover their own passions, interests and goals, those are the questions we need to be asking ourselves as parents.
Every entry I make about the kids refers to them as "The Boy" and "The Girl". This is done for online search anonymity and to protect them from the ramblings of a crazy mother.
Previous Installments:
Tears of a Clown, Part 1: https://www.elitefts.com/training-logs/passing-the-baton-tears-of-a-clown-part-1/
Plan For Athletic Domination: https://www.elitefts.com/
Simply Say, "Thank You": https://www.elitefts.com/
Tangible Incentives/Rewards: http://
There's more to training than just logging numbers, and sometimes we need to look at our lives as a whole before we can appreciate and build upon the smaller pieces. Thank you for sharing!
I am learning that passing on is so much more difficult to do when it involves those you are closest to. However, I am very fortunate that they enjoy the ride and find training and athletics in the top three things in their lives too. Funny how that happens. :)
Thank you so much for following along and for your comments. I always enjoy getting feedback and interactions with readers. I appreciate you taking the time to do just that!