We have been wrestling with Bo for three years to get him into a sport. At 3 it was hours of screaming fits at swim lessons. At 4 he thought he wanted to play soccer but wouldn't go out onto the field. We made the commitment so we went to every practice and game and just sat there. Brutal. At 5 he dabbled in wrestling for the first time but was too shy to wrestle anyone other than Daddy. So now at 6, almost 7, we didn't give him a choice. Or Sam. They were going to wrestle. No ifs, ands, or buts.
Don't get me wrong, if they honestly don't like it, we won't force them to continue, but we WILL force them to give it a shot. And not just one day or two days, but an entire season. They wrestle at home constantly so we know its in their blood.
The biggest problem was breaking the cycle of sports anxiety and of doing something new. We bought them new wrestling shoes (even Max), some shiny new shorts and talked it up for weeks. Daddy made it a point to roll around the living room floor with them in the evenings, teaching them moves and getting them familiar with the lingo. Plus to top it all off, Daddy told them they would be in the same group and that he was going to be one of their coaches. Score!
Things were looking up. They were getting excited.
And then the first day of practice rolled around and the screaming fits of hysteria started. Sam was a slobbering disaster. Bo was just mean. I kept trying to reassure them but everything I said seemed to make things worse until it finally dawned on me that Sam thought he was going to have to wrestle another kid for real that night. I felt horrible. Hell, I would be freaked out too if I thought I was going to be thrown into a match blind. No way! Where's the door and don't bother coming after me.
I went on to explain to him that they were just going to play games the first night and learn how wrestling is fun. Light switch. Tears stopped. Frown was quickly replaced with a smile and a gazillion questions. He was on board.
Bo, on the other hand, was still being mean. Screaming at me turrets style.
Mommy is mean!
Mommy is stupid!
I hate wrestling!
Wrestling is stupid!
I don't want to goooooooo!!!!!
Sorry dude, you are going. You are not going to change my mind.
He eventually gave in and embraced it. Both boys were finally excited and ready to go. I was ready for a nap.
We are now on week 2 and they are doing great. Here are a few pics from tonight.
Max checking Sam's shoes
Watching Daddy mop the mats before practice
Waiting for practice to start
Watching & learning
Bo's double leg takedown
Max watching the half nelson
1 comment:
I just saw this post. It's great! Are they still liking it?
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