Well, we're trying anyway. Mommy thought it would be a good idea to sign you up to play soccer. I thought you'd like to meet new friends and enjoy the nice weather outside. So I signed you up for an under-4 league at the Y. Abby signed up to play too, so Miss Nicole and I were hoping you and Abby would be on the same team, and it would just be perfect. Well, the reality is they divide the teams up by boys and girls, so you're on a boys team (so no Abby). But hey, I thought, you'll still be able to run around and have fun. So off to our first practice we went.
It wasn't too bad at first. You kicked the ball around and had fun. But then the coach decided it would be a good idea to play a practice game. Yes, on the first day of practice for 3-year olds that have no clue what soccer is even about! So they lined you guys up and blew the whistle. Well everyone started running for the ball and trying to kick it (pushing and shoving each other along the way). Meanwhile, you just stood there and watched them all. It was like you were thinking, "What in the heck are these people doing?" So after a few plays like that the coach finally figured out that maybe you guys should do some more practicing - like practice kicking the ball into the goal (yes, that the point of the game) and practice running and stopping when the whistle blows (yes, that's why they blow the whistle - not just for the fun of it) and practice not using your hands when you play (yes, that's not allowed - who knew!?).
So the first practice wasn't all bad. But it's pretty much gone downhill ever since. The second practice was a NIGHTMARE! You didn't want to do anything. All you wanted to do was run the length of the soccer fields (not just the field where your team played, but fieldS where the entire Y community plays all of their leagues). So either your dad or I was chasing you pretty much the entire practice. So I told you you needed to sit and watch if you weren't going to participate. Well, after a few somersaults on the ground, I tried to make you sit down. Oh boy, that was obviously NOT what you wanted to do because the screaming tantrum began (we'll get into those in a minute). I had to take you to the car to get you to calm down. Needless to say, that was not the most enjoyable ride home for any of us.Your first game was canceled due to rain (my prayers were answered!) and you've had one more practice since. We had your dad take you by himself to see if that would work better. He said you still didn't play, but I think you acted a bit better than before. I'll just have to keep you updated on whether or not you actually step foot on your team's soccer field. The coach said they had one boy last year who never played, but just watched on the side. I'm thinking he may have another one this year! But that's OK, at least we're trying!
One funny story about this whole soccer thing - we went to the sporting goods store to pick out your shoes and ball. I had scoped a couple of stores out first so we weren't dragging you around to different stores. Well, on my trips, I found that there were a select number of colors of balls - typically blue, pink and maybe a red or a silver. So I told your dad that I bet you'd want a pink ball (since pink is your favorite color), and he said absolutely you couldn't have a pink ball. Well lo and behold, we go to the store together to get the ball, and which ball did you say right off the bat you wanted - the pink one! I knew it!!! But we were able to convince you to get the red ball instead of the pink one. I'm all for you choosing whatever color is your favorite, but sometimes we just have to put our foot down!! I hope you're not mad at us for that!!!
So back to the tantrums. I really thought we had lucked out and you were just this extraordinary little boy who wasn't going to go through the terrible 2s and who wasn't going to throw tantrums. Well, let me tell you, terrible 2s have NOTHING on what I like to call, When Did the Devil Take Over My Child 3s. Just in the past month or two, if something doesn't go your way, you throw the craziest tantrums. There's lots of screaming, some thrashing around, some rolling on the floor and sometimes there's hitting. Unfortunately I'm usually the recipient of the hitting which, let me tell you, is no fun. But I know this is just a phase and it will be over soon - it BETTER be over soon! I have read online that this behavior is very common for 3 1/2 year olds, so that makes me feel better. I know you've been through so many changes in the past 9 months (new brother, getting rid of paci, potty training, starting preschool) that that probably has a lot to do with it. So we're working on ways to get those frustrations out besides the tantrums. Plus after the tantrums, we talk it out and you always say you're sorry, so I know you just get frustrated and can't quite figure out how to deal with it. We'll figure it out - if we don't kill each other first!!! Only kidding!!!!! No matter how many tantrums you throw, I'll always love you!!!
Until next time, Kiss Kiss from Mommy!
