First Jr. High Basketball Games 8th Grade

Tonight was the first basketball game at my daughters Jr. High School. She is on the pom pom squad for the second year and this is her first routine as an "8th Grader". I wish I could have been there to see her tonight because she really has put her heart into working together with her squad. Unfortunately our youngest daughter has a fever and is recouping here at home with me tonight. My wife is at the game with our son and taking some a video of the routine. Its always fun to look back at the first routine at the end of the season and notice the progress.

Our daughters pom squad has a new coach this year and practice has been every night after school leading up to this week for the first game. The extra hours she spends after school show her dedication and not once when I picked her up did I hear a complaint about how long practice was or any complaint about pom's for that matter. However, I did hear "I am starving, is dinner ready?" and also "I have so much homework to do tonight".

Our daughter is very smart, somewhat reserve and very much of a perfectionist. Having the patience to work through things that do not develop an immediate right answer can sometimes be a struggle. I think just this year she is understanding that effort is part of the equation to reach the correct answer and I hope that this lesson sticks with her past this year. We can only hope that with our parenting and her strong determination to succeed she comes to realize that perfection and the ability to reach her goals takes studying, practicing, working hard, dedication, determination and consistency. This moment in time I suppose is one of life's great lessons.

When I seen the video of her performing her routine tonight I was very proud. Not because she was out there and doing a great job, although I was proud of that too, but extremely proud of her being part of the team and going through the tough days of practice to reach her payoff, the "game day". I'm sure she felt very happy to be out there in front of many of her friends in the bleachers showing them what she had learned. I know I was excited watching the video and I know my wife was very happy to see her perform as well. Isn't it great seeing your children achieve something they really enjoy? It's the best.

Soon, after this year she will be high school and along with that will come a whole new set of goals, achievements, life lessons, and decisions for her to make. So far, I am very proud of her choices and hope that I can show her just how proud I am in a way that she can see. Normally when you ask a question like "did you have a good time out there tonight?" or "how was school today?" the answer is always "it was ok". That is about all we get until I found out that sometimes being quiet allows her to express herself in the way she wants to and by easing into the conversation allows her to open up and share from her perspective the events of the day.

More on the kids later, I know as parents we still have plenty to learn as well and we have our own challenges and choices to make. One of the biggest mistakes I think though is for anyone not to have some type of goal that they want to achieve. Goals keep you focused and on track. Without a goal you are just floating through time. Time is a gift and doesn't last forever. Take everyday as a day you need to move forward, to make progress toward your goal. Take one step forward today and then another tomorrow. Yes, there will be days when you feel as though the forward progress has slipped, but as long as you are focused on your goal and are willing to expend the effort on a daily basis, there really is nothing that can stop you from achieving it.

Good night all.

Tread lightly,

Mouserunner
www.getfitwithmouserunner.com