I don’t like to dwell on the negative, but sometimes life gets hard. It’s true. When things get hard it seems to me the only option is to keep going. That’s what I hope my little boy learned at his first wrestling match.
I have to start this post out by saying that I have a pretty easy life. Really, I do. Even though my life is pretty easy, and good, someday’s are challenging. What is a person to do when life throws a you a curve ball? I don’t know for sure who was the author of this quote, “when life gets tough, the tough get going”. Who ever said it was right!
Last week my baby had his first wrestling match. He was so excited. He has been quoting Nacho Libre all season long, “I want to win!” My baby is my most feisty child. He loves to scrap with his older brothers and usually holds his own. Most days he has loved wrestling practice.
We got to the wrestling match and he couldn’t wait for them to call his age group. He is a pretty big kindergartener. I figured he would be one of the bigger kids in his group and do just fine. He was ready to roll!
Disclaimer: I know nothing about wrestling. In fact, it’s hard for me to tell if they are winning or loosing. I don’t have any words of advice for the poor little fella!
As soon as my baby started wrestling he started crying. He claimed his neck was hurt. He needed a tissue to wipe his nose. He had one question for us. He wanted to wait for just a minute. Ahhh, that is not the way I roll. Justin and I kept telling him to toughen up and wrestle like a man. Like a kindergarten man!
He ended up crying the whole time. I was about to die! I did not see this coming. I was so confident in him. It was awful!
Of course, as parents we talked to him about the importance of sticking with it until the job is done. We talked to him about doing his best. We talked to him about being tough. We talked to him about focusing on the task at hand. He cried some more, so sad. After awhile he told me “Dad was so mad at me”. I asked him, “why was Dad mad at you?” He responded, “because I lost”. I questioned him again, “why did Dad get mad at you”. This time he got it right, “because I didn’t do my best”. He got it.
Even though it wasn’t a fun experience, for any of us. Experiences like this are the ones that teach our children the hard lessons in life. When he is in college, or marriage or employment, I want him to remember that he needs to do his best and not give up. Hopefully he will continue to learn that “when the going gets tough, he needs to get going”!
Neva Davis says
Now is the time you start to lose your baby.. School sadly takes all the innocence of childhood away.. they have to start to stand up for themselves. All the nice things you have taught them aren’t always possible in the real world. Sam says you have to teach them to hate. I don;t think it is quite that far but they do change alot. But we will always love them to the moon and back. I love your blog and all your recipes.. you are amazing
Amy Engberson says
I’m not a huge fan of school either, Neva! I remember the first time Carson came home from preschool and stuck his tongue out at me. At that moment I knew we were starting on a long journey of picking up other kids habits in addition to our own! I find it hard to find a balance in teaching them to stand up for themselves and always be nice. I guess that’s part of life. And yes, we love them to the moon and back no matter what! Thanks for loving my recipes!!
Elaine Duckett says
Like some of us say, “Buck Up Little Camper” and I am sure the next time Payson has a match he will remember what you taught him, not only in sports, but all of his life.
I have seen Payson wrestle with this two older brothers, who would have thought Payson could be thrown off of his game, not me. He is just too cute.
Friday posts are still me favorite day.
Mom
Amy Engberson says
I couldn’t believe he didn’t get down right scrappy! Scrappy is his true colors! Maybe next year!
Darla says
My son did the same thing during his first match. When the opponent pushed him down he got mad, pushed him back, they both got mad and were crying at the same time. It turned into a street style fight between kindergartners with eye gouging, scratching, etc. Honestly, I was laughing so hard I cried. He is now a senior and his wrestling team just won the team state championship (they also won when he was a freshman). He was a varsity starter from the first day of his freshman year until his final match his senior year. He also was a state qualifier a couple times. I can’t believe it’s the same kid from that match 12 years ago. Your son is going to be just fine. He obviously wants it so much that it makes him emotional. My son still cried up until two weeks before the season ended and he is one tough kid. It’s just such an emotional sport. Good luck to a future grappler!
Amy Engberson says
Thanks for the encouragement! I know he is still pretty little. I was disappointed because I knew he could have done much better if he would have tried. Oh well, maybe he learned an important lesson he needed to learn. Besides, like you say, who knows what the future will bring for him. I still love him to the moon and back!
Emily says
Even if he didn’t win I am sure he was the cutest little boy there!! Good for him to learn that he needs to do his best. I’m sure it will stick with him through out his life!