States

When you have a child it's like being given a giant book with millions of pages. It seems almost impossible to read through it, it feels like getting to the end will take forever. Then BOOM suddenly you're at the end of the book staring down the barrel of an entirely new book. That's the way it goes.

Tyler leaves tomorrow for states. He didn't do as well at sectionals as we had hoped and it was incredibly heartbreaking for all of us. I spent most of the day bursting into tears, especially when I realized that this would be the last time I saw him wrestle. He goes to states as an alternate tomorrow. If anyone in his divisional weight class cannot wrestle he does. I physically cannot make it there to watch him. With my due date just 9 days away I am nearly unable to walk by noon most days thanks to SPD.

In a few short weeks he will be 18. Shortly after that he could be moving away for a job out of state. he wants to join the military after that in wrestle there. He wants to spread his wings and that amazes me.
He amazes me. His lack of fear, his fresh look at the world, his youth... it's all so incredible. I have raised an amazing young man that I am so proud to call my son. Despite every single screw up I have ever made, despite the drama of his early years. Despite being a teen mom, he turned out OK.

So many chapters are closing for Tyler this year. So many opportunities are waiting for him. I can't wait to see what the next 18 years brings him.

Coach P

Sam learning the penetration step 

Sam has wrestling on Tuesday and Thursday nights. He came off the bus in a very dark mood and was stressing everyone out. I could tell he was stressed out and I wasn't sure there was much I was going to be able to do to fix it.

Practice

Then I remembered it was a wrestling night. Sam perked up and got ready for his class. He LOVES  Coach P.  Sam talks about him more than any other person. He says things he has heard the coach say like  "cut your nails or paint them" He always follows it with "Coach was just kidding". He enjoys the hour or so being part of the team without the pressure of an actual team sport. It's one of the best things about wrestling for Sam. We tried other sports but they just were not the right fit. THIS is.

I am so grateful that Coach P gave Sam a chance to be part of something bigger than he is. The passion Coach has for this sport has an effect of Sam. It makes him want it more.  Sam struggles with understanding emotions and learns  to process them by watching others, over and over and over. Coach P is easy for Sammy to read and so Sam feels safe.

It takes a really special person to coach, even more so to coach a kid like Sam. I am so grateful for Coach P.

Concussed

January 9, 2013

Our oldest boy wrestles and I know I have mentioned before how very good at it he is. It's a rough sport for sure and injuries happen. We knew that going in.

Tyler is an Aspie and has learned a ton of great social coping skills  to the point where most people have no idea. He hides behind humor and silliness and it is one of the MANY things I love about that boy. As my oldest son we have a special kind of bond and we are very close. Ty tells me just about everything and he comes to me for advice. He is 17 and such a blessing to our family. He connects with Sammy in a way no one else can. My two spectrum boys really do get each other.

Tyler was at a meet this weekend and was dumped on his head, hard. He was rushed to the local hospital on a spine board complete with a neck brace. The trainer began to tell him they thought he might have broken his neck. I wasn't there, the meet was 2.5 hours away and Dan had to work. He must have been terrified.

But he is OK. He does have a concussion and he is off the mat for AT LEAST 14 days post headache, but he should be able to wrestle for sectionals. Right now we just want to protect him enough to get him there. Last year he broke his collar bone 2 weeks before sectionals and it ended his most promising season. He won't allow that to happen again and he is terrified it will.

I am so grateful for his coaches that make sure the kids are safe. We have an incredible staff and they all love the kids. Tyler has learned so much on the mat. One of the coaches is now Sam's coach too.

Someone asked how I can watch Tyler wrestle. It's simple. When your child has a passion for something, you watch. You endure crazy early morning rides to Dighton, PB&J for lunch each Saturday, cold toes, and aching backs from bleachers. You go and scream yourself hoarse, call out moves, and pray at the sidelines, because when your child has a passion, you support it even when you don't want to. This is the last sport I would have picked, but Tyler picked it and he excels at it. So I support him in any way I can.

I am blessed he wasn't seriously hurt  and that he can finish out his season chasing his dream and fulfilling his passion.

PINNED

Sam really wants to participate in a sport. He has asked to play soccer but in order to do that he would need to wear socks which he refuses to do.  Plus we did find that soccer moves to fast for him. By the time he is aware the ball is near enough  to kick its already going to other direction. It was difficult to watch him play and cry that year. One game he bolted for the parking lot full of cars and another mom caught him.

Baseball won't work because as physically adept as Sam is he doesn't have the patience or the coordination for it. Plus you have to wear a helmet and according to Sam "helmets smell like butt"

Running would be great but Sam sees no purpose in running just to run faster than everyone.

What we needed was a team sport that will utilize his amazing strength, teach him self discipline, allows him to function as a single unit while still part of the team,  does not make him wear socks, helmets or any other uncomfortable gear. Tall order that I really wasn't sure we would find.

Our oldest boy wrestles, and wrestles well. In fact he is AMAZING at it.

 His coach teaches a youth program but there was no way we could afford the 200$ to place Sam in a program that he may just quit week two. Sam was invited anyway and everything came together to allow him to try it. Nothing short of a miracle. Tyler is assisting with the youth program coaching and both Coach P and Tyler know all about Sam. He was invited anyway. Did I mention that?

Of course he is all over the place and he can't stand still. The other 8 year old in the group stands there and listens intently to the couches. Sam takes some extra direction and extra work. he watches himself in the reflection of the dark windows... a lot. But he is learning. Coach P is so patient and wonderful with him. Sam seems to be really enjoying it.

Week two and no refusals and he has even done his homework before practice.

Now That is PROGRESS
and all forward progress counts.