Before discussing some of the things I have learned this week, let’s take a quick poll on the following picture. Who thinks that this child looks like me?
Anyone? Didn’t think so.
He definitely got the recessive genes of the family. My little towhead, blue eyed boy.
Now, onto the things I’ve learned this week.
1. Sometimes you have to be assertive, but in a polite way
Soccer camp has been going on for three days now. James called up the recreation department after the first day and explained how the camp was very understaffed. The coach of the camp called him back personally and told him that he was going to be getting a couple more helpers.
The next day, there was a head coach and a helper for two groups of twelve kids, rather than a coach and a helper for one group of twenty-four kids.
2. Four year olds are crazy
This doesn’t really need an explanation.
3. I’m going to be the kind of parent that is active in their child’s athletic life.
I have learned in just three days that I am going to be a high strung mom, when it comes to my children playing sports. James too. Out of all the parents sitting and watching the camp, I can count on one hand the number of them that are actually engaged, encouraging and taking part in their child’s experience. I get aggravated when there is too much wasted time, get annoyed at the cry babies on the field and want Brayden to be the best one out there.
4. My child wastes time, is one of the cry babies on the field and is not the best one out there.
But guess what? That’s okay, right? At least, that’s what I try to tell myself. He’s only four. And just barely that. He likes to talk, so he frequently talks to the coach, telling him random things which often is wasting time. We have to work on his perseverance . . . and let him know that if someone “steals” the ball from him or pushes him or if he doesn’t score a goal at all, that crying doesn’t help. And he’s one of the youngest ones there and he’s never really played or scrimmaged before, so he isn’t high above everyone else. But somewhere in the middle isn’t a bad place to be. . . there’s always room for improvement 🙂
5. Brayden loves defense
We are having a hard time getting him to play any offense. As soon as the ball starts heading toward the opponent’s goal, he takes off in a sprint towards the goal to defend it. There has been a boy on the other team who does the same thing. I wonder if it’s just a natural instinct for some kids. And while I wish that he would be aggressive and chase after the ball like a wild man like many of the other kids, I do enjoy knowing that he understands the difference between offense and defense and has a sense of which direction play is going on the field. I don’t think a lot of the kids understand this, or pay attention to which way they are trying to kick the ball. Also, Brayden understands that he’s not supposed to use his hands. One of the boys who is really quick and does a great job dribbling and shooting often moves the ball with his hands if there is a “pile up” or if it’s not where he wants it to be. So I guess each child really has their strengths and their weaknesses, even this early on. 
By Friday, there may be more things I have learned. Stay tuned.
newborn, child and family photographer
rochester new york