Saturday, September 27, 2014

I Just Want to Play with my Friends and Trash Talk

It has been a week since I was going to post these pictures and continue my "embarrassment tolerance"  theory.  I am glad I waited a week.  I will tell you last Saturday was a hard one for me.  I grew up with a 3 sport Coach Dad.  The most important attributes in a good athlete, according to my dad was hustle and sportsmanship.  He may have never out right said this, but you knew it whether you were his daughter or a player on his football, basketball or track team.
These things are important to me too.
And to be honest Henry really could care less about either of those.  Not at a global level, more at a right this minute level, which is where Henry lives right now.  He really has no idea what happened 5 minutes ago and can really care less.
Henry plays for Upward Football 1st and 2nd grade level.  Let me tell you it is for serious 6-8 year-olds.  It is.  Not serious all the time, but serious football players and coaches--at least during drills and games.  Do not get me wrong, his coaches are amazing men who know how to talk to kids, but they are serious about this league.  I am glad they are and if my son were 4 notches higher more serious about sports, he would be at their serious level.  But really he wants to pull flags and laugh and makes his friends laugh and well do this...
He is my son after all.

I know, serious looking, but they are getting ready to...

...yep Pray.
We had a conversation the week before about bowing your head to pray.  I do not think that God necessarily cares if we bow our head to pray, but I said that maybe it was a good idea in these instances to focus.  Then Henry said, "Ya and God is a King after all."  Yep.  Out of the mouths of babes.  (I have always thought instead of saying, "bow your heads," it would be better to say, "look up."  What do I know, and I digress) 
This may have been a trash talking moment.  We're working on it folks.
It doesn't help when his coaches mention it in a slightly positive way or at least in a way that everyone laughs and then well, he thinks it is funny.  (Which it kinda is funny let's be honest, but sportsmanship remember?)

Capturing a flag

and his humble celebration afterward

He got to do this position (no, I do not know or care the football term for this position)

This would lead to an awesome touch down by Henry's long time buddy Joseph.  Who, by the way is NOT serious about playing in general, but man when it comes to football very serious.  We may seem him on TV one day.

When do I just get to play?  One of Henry's MY goals for the game was for him not to pull flags unless it was during a play.  He met this goal by the way.

Love this boy

Pouring some other kid's water on his head, yes, I walked over there and told him to cut it out.
Hey, I'm his mom
After the game I felt very frustrated by Henry's lack of focus and well he fooled around a lot.  And you know what?  Who CARES HE IS 6!  I cared, a lot, more than I am proud to admit.  It took me most of the weekend and a little into the week to figure this out for myself.  I have to figure this part of me out for Henry and Will.  I really want to enjoy them for who they are.  Not who I or anyone else think they should be.
Henry asked me in the car, "why are sports important again?"  Ryan and I went on and on for 20 minutes.  I do want him to be active, I do want him to learn how to be a part of a team, I do want him to feel the glory of victory and the sting of defeat.  And then I remembered I started sports when I was in junior high.  And I learned all those things.
But what if he doesn't want to ever play sports?  GASP!  What if he really does want to be a ninja?
Well then, I guess I will be a ninja's mom.
And a proud one.  And a safe one, because ninjas protect people at night and that is when I get the most scared.
For now he will finish this football season, but I think we will pass on basketball...for now.
I leave you with pictures from today's game...
Henry's longest run and his coach pointing the way.

Watch out coach!

Henry got his flag pulled, but kept running
because that is how Ninjas roll

Be who you are going to be #13
and I will be on the sidelines clapping
and well giving you the look when I need to because I am your mom

1 comment:

Lydia Henry said...

Oh, Jenny, I laughed so hard. I love Henry for just being Henry. It is hard to watch your children in any sport at any age.