Our church has held an indoor Soccer League outreach for many, many years. Our girls were a part of it all through childhood and John coached and ref-ed for years. He loved it and sadly sent his referee shirt to a donation organization just last year thinking his soccer league days were over.
Then he learned our granddaughter, Keri Jill, was old enough to begin now that she is 7 years old. So, first thing this morning, off we went to watch Keri play and cheer her on.
After ascertaining that she looked cute with her pink jacket tied around her waist, she was ready to play.
Then, a bit of apprehension set in.
Feeling uncertain about what she should do as Daddy coaches her team and
brothers Silas and Noah look on.
Preferring to watch the boys scrambling after the ball.
Not liking this situation at all.
Daddy, I need to talk to you…
Daddy, I need to talk to you…
Mommy, I just want to go home…
and curl up on the sofa.
Parenting is such a fine balance in encouraging, loving, prodding along yet not pushing too hard. I’m sure every mom feels the same heart tug remembering a time with a child facing a challenge in their young life.
My heart is breaking for Keri Jill. But what loving arms of her mama. Hope she is having a much better day.
Awww, very sweet post, so hard to see our children having a hard time. Yes, always a balance with them and us learning. Keri Jill looks so much like her mommy. It's the age I remember your twin girls and it's uncanny. She's adorable.
Love how you capture so much in your photos and posts.
Awwww, precious little pumpkin!!! It looks like mom was ready on the sidelines with a big hug:)
My 3 boys all played indoor co-ed soccer at a local church. By the time my youngest joined I figured he'd just breeze in and fit right in after spending so much time there watching his 2 older brothers practice and going to all their games. Wrong!!! He bawled his eyes out before each and every practice and before each and every game! I seriously felt like I was torturing him sometimes!
What a beautiful post. Loving parenting going on here.
Carol
What a sweet post – it touched my heart! Some of us just aren't cut out to play ball. Reminds me of my daughter when she was about that age. She couldn't wait until she could play T-ball – until the day of the first game. She didn't want to wear the 'silly' batting helmet and when it was time to get up to bat she refused! When I tried to convince her that she had waited for this she said she didn't know there would be 'all these people looking at her'! She decided right then and there she wasn't going to play – and she never did again!
~Adrienne~
Oh that is just darling! I still have young ones and it is so true what you said about balancing. Sometimes we need to let them find their own comfort zone with new things and not push them:-) Your daughter is wise:-)
Aw bless her heart. I wonder who that was rougher on, mother or child. I suppose it was tough for both of them 🙂
Oh…such a sweet girl! I love the look shared between mama and daughter in that first photo of the two of them. So tender.
But what I want to know is ~ How did you manange to take the photos with those tears in your eyes? : )
Oh my mommy heart just breaks when I see this. It is a fine line when parenting –of comforting, encouraging, and helping these little ones step out and try something new.
Hope she soon feels good about it.:)
Hugs,
Linda