Play ball!

There is some background you need to know before we get to the meat of this post (and the pictures, of course). Last fall, when we signed Carter up for soccer, he literally screamed and threw a tantrum the entire way to his first practice. He was dead set convinced that he wouldn't enjoy it and wouldn't be any good at it. He refused to participate for the first 10 minutes. Then, he tried it. And decided he liked it! Plus, he was pretty darn good at it!

So, I had this bright idea that I wouldn't tell Carter that he would be playing tee-ball. I just packed him up in the car and drove him there. When he realized what he was in for, he became sullen. He pulled me down and whispered in my ear - You tricked me!! Uh oh. Yeah, I felt like crap.

Once again, he refused to participate. He wouldn't even stand with his team (which included three of his best school buds!). We kept trying to conjole him into just trying it. He just cried and refused to budge. Then, one of the coaches asked him to run the bases with him. And well, he knows he can run, so he did it! And from that point on was really into it!

Introducing Carter, #2 for the Orioles!

Running the bases with Coach!

Learning to throw the ball - he had great form!

Learning to catch the ball - a huge accomplishment considering heretofore he's only closed his eyes and put his hands over his face when a ball was thrown at him!

It was really so cute. We're really excited to watch Carter play this season, and progress and grow!

I do, however, keep wondering how I should have handled the situation from the start. It frustrates me that Carter won't even try anything that he doesn't already know he's good at. I'm just not sure how to handle it.

Carter asked me why I tricked him the other day (kids never forget anything). I told him that I hoped he'd see his friends and think it would be fun. His response? Well, that didn't work out so well, now did it. You're plan blew up! Yeah, he may not have a good dose of courage, but the kid has a lot of sauce!

How would you have handled it?

I'm a Soccer Mom!!!

After 4.5 long and grueling years of waiting with great anticipation for our first-born child to enter the whirlwind world of extra-curriculars, Carter did so on Friday, simultaneously marking my inception into the genre of "soccer mom."

Soccer wasn't exactly my or Ace's first choice of sport, since neither of us have ever really been all that interested in soccer. But we were lured in by the promise of Carter constantly running the field, which we idealistically believed would later translate into a solid (and early) night of sleep for our Pre-K'er. Well, the sleep didn't so much result, but the boy had fun! And that is what matters, isn't it???

(He's in the white shirt and navy shorts, in case you didn't notice).

Of course, little brother cannot resist participating in any activity of his idol (i.e. older bro), and was constantly trying to get in on the practice. He was relegated to the role of water boy for at least another 3 years. Poor Bennett.

Yep, so for the next five Friday afternoons, you can find Ace and I at the soccer field! I actually think this is going to be quite fun!