If there is one thing that I know about my little man is that Jack Jack is not a competitive person. He doesn't strive to be the winner all the time and he doesn't get upset when he loses. It is just not in his nature. Something that I think he honestly gets from me! Both he and I enjoy the experience of the game and the fun of it. We look at it as an opportunity to be with our friends and just be in the moment.
But over the years, we have tried Jackson in a number of sports in hopes of him finding one that he would take too or find his niche. Also, its hard not to feel the pressure of friends and neighbors pushing their kids into sports. And I can honestly admit I have felt that over the years. So we tried soccer at the age of 3. And yes we said later he was a little too young since all he did was pick daisies and watch the trains go by. We tried baseball at the age of 5, which turned out to be his least favorite. We had games two nights a week and it became very demanding for a school week. Even for me and daddy, it was too much to ask of a 5 year old to put on his game face every Tuesdays and Thursdays for 3 months straight. Eventually his favorite part about baseball was dancing in the outfield and making everyone laugh.
So this year, we tried flag football. We felt like he was old enough to understand the plays and safer than real tackle football (which mommy felt he was not ready for!). Also secretly his daddy was elated that he was playing his favorite sport! Martin even signed up to be the assistant coach and was excited and eager to take him to every practice and game despite our recent wacky weather. Ironically, we were the Steelers and Jack Jack was mighty number 62. Our season lasted 2 months and ended this past Saturday with a pizza party and trophies. AND we can now officially say that this time around Jackson really enjoyed himself. I am not saying that he turned out to be a C.J Spiller or Eli Manning but he held is own and grew into his own little player and teammate. There were trial and tribulations at first. At the beginning of the season, you could tell that this had the potential of being another soccer or baseball experience. The first practice he came home in tears because "it was confusing and hard to run straight with boys still coming at you" and "daddy didn't like the way he ran." So we had to practice for a couple of weeks on how to run and stay straight. But as practices and games went on he became better...even almost scoring twice. He found his favorite position was center. He liked hiking the ball and being able to block the other team's players from the quarterback. And most of all he enjoyed being with his friends and making new ones. He liked getting out on the field and just running. He also enjoyed watching his teammates score and make good plays.
Like I said earlier I didn't have hopes this season of him winning the Heisman but what I wanted for Jackson was to have a good time, learn how to be a good teammate and sport, and to find something that he enjoyed. As we were riding home yesterday, he asked eagerly could we sign him up again and when did the next season start...this made his mommy and daddy smile!
But over the years, we have tried Jackson in a number of sports in hopes of him finding one that he would take too or find his niche. Also, its hard not to feel the pressure of friends and neighbors pushing their kids into sports. And I can honestly admit I have felt that over the years. So we tried soccer at the age of 3. And yes we said later he was a little too young since all he did was pick daisies and watch the trains go by. We tried baseball at the age of 5, which turned out to be his least favorite. We had games two nights a week and it became very demanding for a school week. Even for me and daddy, it was too much to ask of a 5 year old to put on his game face every Tuesdays and Thursdays for 3 months straight. Eventually his favorite part about baseball was dancing in the outfield and making everyone laugh.
So this year, we tried flag football. We felt like he was old enough to understand the plays and safer than real tackle football (which mommy felt he was not ready for!). Also secretly his daddy was elated that he was playing his favorite sport! Martin even signed up to be the assistant coach and was excited and eager to take him to every practice and game despite our recent wacky weather. Ironically, we were the Steelers and Jack Jack was mighty number 62. Our season lasted 2 months and ended this past Saturday with a pizza party and trophies. AND we can now officially say that this time around Jackson really enjoyed himself. I am not saying that he turned out to be a C.J Spiller or Eli Manning but he held is own and grew into his own little player and teammate. There were trial and tribulations at first. At the beginning of the season, you could tell that this had the potential of being another soccer or baseball experience. The first practice he came home in tears because "it was confusing and hard to run straight with boys still coming at you" and "daddy didn't like the way he ran." So we had to practice for a couple of weeks on how to run and stay straight. But as practices and games went on he became better...even almost scoring twice. He found his favorite position was center. He liked hiking the ball and being able to block the other team's players from the quarterback. And most of all he enjoyed being with his friends and making new ones. He liked getting out on the field and just running. He also enjoyed watching his teammates score and make good plays.
Like I said earlier I didn't have hopes this season of him winning the Heisman but what I wanted for Jackson was to have a good time, learn how to be a good teammate and sport, and to find something that he enjoyed. As we were riding home yesterday, he asked eagerly could we sign him up again and when did the next season start...this made his mommy and daddy smile!
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