Back in the Game

We're all getting back to reality after a fantastic summer. I'm back at work and one week into teaching students. Ryan is back at Diane's. Josh is back to driving kids in the morning and Haley starts 1st grade tomorrow after a super fun week and a half playing with her grandparents.

We are also back into the soccer season.

 Haley was VERY excited for her first practice and first game. This is her first year playing on an all girls team. Before the game the assistant coach asked who wanted to play goalie. Haley shot her hand up and my heart started to pound. She was goalie once last year and let a good number of goals go by her. I could see her face each time the other team cheered when they scored on her and each time my heart dropped just a bit. I grew up doing team sports and I definitely know about the ups and downs. But Haley is young and I just want her to build confidence.

So there she was, a year later, thrilled to be goalie the first quarter of the game. Josh went and stood behind the goal to talk her through the boundaries, etc. The whistle blew and the opposite team went straight up the field, through all of our players and immediately scored a hard kicked goal. I couldn't really tell Haley's expression but I saw Josh talking to her, saying all the right things I am sure. Whistle blows again and the same little girl runs past all of our players and kicks a high goal in the left corner. Not a chance for Haley who is not at all aggressive. It took a few seconds, but as the players went back to kick off again, Haley buried her face in her hands and started to cry. My heart, again, sank. I walked over and she just kept saying, "I don't want to be goalie anymore." We kept assuring her and letting her know that some will get past her and others won't. I walked past Josh and said, "this sucks." My most mature reaction. At the moment I was mad. Mad that the coach wasn't coming over to comfort her, mad that he didn't know that my sensitive daughter was crushed by the fact that she let goals by (again, very rational thinking at this moment in time). The whistle blew again and up came the very same girl. My heart started to race as I calmly told my crying child to "get ready, you can do this." Josh was saying the same thing in a quiet voice. The girl made another good kick and...HALEY SAVED IT!!! The sideline went nuts, as did her two parents goal side. It seriously felt like a Brandy Chastain (sp) moment. I then, not so calmly, instructed Haley to walk the ball out the the edge of the box and throw it to a teammate. Once the girls were away for a bit she turned and smiled and wiped her tears. She still wanted out, don't get me wrong. But she knew she could do it. That's all I want for my kids. To know that sometimes it's easy and other times it's hard. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. Sometimes you block a goal and others get past you. All will be ok.
We lost the game 6 or 7 to 0. Haley got right back in the game and ran around the field getting in a few good kicks/plays. She felt much better. Every goalie was scored- thank goodness not just Haley- is that bad?
The best part? When talking about the game later, she said she'd want to try and be goalie again. I don't think I can handle it, but I'm glad she can.

Jacob!

My nephew, Jacob Orlando Rasul, was born Aug 19th. He is perfection! We are so excited that he is here. His skin is soft and he smells so sweet. So cool that the name carries on (my grandfather, father, brother and nephew). Welcome to our family little Jake.

The Best

This has been, by far, the best summer since becoming a mom. We had a blast together. We had many fun trips but we also had fun being at home and doing things locally. I know that Ryan being 3 made a huge difference. Last summer he was good and 2, if you know what I mean.

Tomorrow it's back to real life. I am back at work, Ryan's back at Diane's and Haley gets to play with my parents for the next week and a half until she starts on the 22nd- 1st grade!!! I am always have mixed emotions this time of year. I am excited to meet my new students and see what the school year holds. I am sad to have my special time end with my family. The mornings have been nice and lazy. The evenings have been care free. It's always an adjustment for all of us (Josh will miss sleeping in too). Cheers to a wonderful summer. Cheers to a fabulous school year.

Positive Signs

In the last week I have really been thinking about going back to work. It's that time of the year when my brain switches from the free and blessed time I get in the summer back to starting the school year. I am starting my 13th year and I still lose sleep and get anxious every year! Last night I got 4 hours of sleep as my mind was buzzing with all I wanted and had to get done before the students show up.

I think it's funny, and not coincidental, that all summer I haven't heard many stories about teachers or teaching. In the last 2 weeks my friend told me how she went to Palm Springs and the man at the registration desk at the resort learned she was a teacher, grabbed her hands and said, "thank you" before upgrading her room to a huge suite. Then I had dinner with my good friend who has been my teaching partner the last 3 years and is moving on. She sent me an email after our dinner that brought me to tears letting me know that she is my biggest cheerleader and supporter. Then the Matt Damon video defending teachers (if you haven't seen it, Google it). Last, and with most impact, was a surprise little note from an old student that gave me just the nugget I needed to get started this year.

These have all acted as signs to me that it's time. Time to get back into the grind. Time to meet my next group. Time to rock and roll!

Jenny

We have a friend, Jenny, who has started a blog and I love it. Jenny is the mother of 4, a cancer survivor, a divorce survivor and a wise woman. When she has something to say, I listen as she is close to my age and has experienced more at this point in her life than most people experience in a lifetime. She has lived through some MAJOR challenges and has the best attitude about life. I encourage you to read her blog. She recently said she had over 600 readers. She writes about every day life lessons as well as chronicles her life list of close to 1,300 challenges.
I am writing about her because, as I've written before, I love gaining wisdom from people I respect. I am inspired by these people. She's awesome and you should follow her journey like I am.