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.

Winning

Tyler was able to return to the mat today for wrestling. I, of course, was a a nervous wreck. I prayed incessantly before , during, and after ever match. This was a big deal tournament today. It was Vocational States.

Tyler's first match he won by points. The second match he pulled out a spectacular win. Everyone around us was amazed and thrilled he won the match.

He fought a valiant fight in his third match, but he lost. He made no errors and he truly did his absolute best. The things is, so did the other kid, his opponent's best was just... better. It's a hard lesson to learn, but a rather  important one for sure.

I am beyond proud of my boy. He brought everything he had and he fought with every last bit of it.

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.