Tell It How It Is

Funny, isn't it? The way children can just tell it how it is? No filter, no buffer, no worries.

I think this is one of those things you have to love and admire about children. They don't worry, they just tell it how it is. And when their feelings are strongest, you can be sure you'll know.

The end of last summer I signed Noah up for his first year of soccer. His team was called The Gators. I was certain he'd love it. After all, it is a whole lotta running on a whole lotta field. And this kid doesn't walk anywhere...if he is going anywhere he is running. Running from the kitchen to the living room, running from the bathroom to his bedroom. Running, running, running.

He was excited; we got to go pick out shin pads and shoes, etc. He was like "a professional" as he said.

Then came the first day of practice.

He'd rather climb the net than run the field. He'd rather throw the soccer ball over the net than kick it in.

I could see we were going to have a bit of a challenge here, but it was just the first day after all. He'd certainly love the games, right?

Wrong.

A couple of games into the season and he tells me he doesn' t like soccer. I asked him why.

"Mommy", he says, "there's just too much running. All you do is run all over the field. I get too tired".

So much for my hypothesis.

As the season wore on it only got worse. Every practice and game was preceeded with crying and pleading to not go, but I told him he'd committed to his team and he had to finish the season out. If he chose not to play again after this season, that was fine. But he had to finish this one.

One day he's at practice and I'm sitting on the sideline and I hear him say to his coach, "I don't really like soccer, but my Mom says I have to play". Thankfully his coach chuckled, while I just kept my head in my magazine and hid my embarrassment. Well, that was just the beginning.

Fast forward a couple weeks later at a game and Noah is running on the field, during the game shouting, "I HAAAAAAATE SOCCER". Over and over while shaking his head back and forth. I was embarrassed initially. Especially because the majority of the kids on the team were really good and really focused on the soccer. Then I realize that was just Noah, being his authentic self. He was like the halftime entertainment!

At one point during the season he discovered the position of Goalie. He took to this position right away because he could just stand there. He didn't have to run. And he could even turn his back to the game and climb the inside of the net. In it to win it? Not so much. He routinely faced the back of the net, climbing, looking, daydreaming. At one point during one game, another parent yells, "Turn around Gator Goalie, turn around!!!"

He did. And a few minutes later the opposing team comes down the field with the ball. The kid hauls off a shot and sends the ball flying towards the net. For once, Noah crouches down and focuses on blocking the ball. And he did. With his face.

Flat to the ground he went like a pancake. Referee blows the whistle. He lays there for about 30 seconds. As the coach escorts him off the field, I hear Noah say, "I don't think I can go back in the rest of the game because of my injury". He was fine. The stinker just realized it was a way to keep him from having to play anymore that evening.

You have to admire the kid though...he wasn't afraid to share his thoughts on how he felt about soccer. In fact, he was willing to share it with the world...or at least everyone on the field or the sidelines.

I wish it was that easy for me to speak my mind sometimes. Without doubt or shame. Guilt or fear.

Clearly he could learn a little bit about tact though...I mean is it necessary to scream these things? Sheesh!

My hope for Noah is that he will continue to share his thoughts and opinions...just with a little more tact.

And my hope for me is that I can learn from him to be more fearless in not only knowing and admitting how I feel about some things, but be willing to speak of them.