I have a confession. I do not put my kids into organized sports as soon as they turn three. (GASP) It's true, I don't see the need for it. Perhaps if they showed an amazing ability in said sport an were begging to play it would be a different story. But so far with my kids, they are perfectly content just being 3 and playing at home with the family and friends. Another confession... I don't believe in putting your kids in any sport they don't really want to play. There are many things that kids can be doing and while I do believe they should be involved in something, I think it is silly to insist they play a sport (or anything like it) that they don't really want to play. Besides, it is expensive, sheesh!
Which brings me to my favorite little guy Kaden. When he was 5 he wanted to play soccer. He played for a season and decided it wasn't really something he liked. Last year he played baseball, he loved it and will be playing again this year. When the sign up paper came home this year for basketball he decided he wanted to give it a try. Chris was so excited. We had mentioned basketball in past years but he didn't have much interest at the time. This was it, the basketball playing dad would finally have a basketball playing son. Chris drove to the city rec center got him signed up and eagerly (probably more eagerly than Kaden) awaited the first practice Tuesday night.
In case you are wondering if Kaden is a natural at basketball, no. Is Kaden very good at all in basketball? No. Much to his father's dismay he did not walk on the court and become the next Michael Jordan. He has A LOT to learn. He is also playing with a team full of boys who probably have moms who put them in basketball when they were three. It has been a frustrating learning process for him but he says he still is happy to be playing. He has had 4 practices and 2 games and he is getting a little better each time. I might have leaked a few tears when I saw him walk to the bench totally dejected and say "I am terrible at this!". Sometimes I think it is harder to be the mom watching your child struggle than it is to be the child struggling. I am so proud of how he sticks to it though, never once has he asked to quit and every night he asks his dad what he can do to practice. Most of the time when he is out on the court he is happy as can be and full of excitment. He is always yelling something, "I'm open!" or "Over here!" (even when he really isn't that open or ready for a shot). His coach (who is the sweetest lady ever!) commented on his determination and refusal to give up. It is such a great quality to have and it just might make a basketball player out of him yet.
One thing Kaden is fairly decent at is defense. His very first game, whenever the player he was guarding had the ball Kaden would get right up in his face and start swinging his arms and jumping up and down. It was comical to watch but effective. I think the other player was shocked and didn't know what to do with such a scene. We lovingly refer to this tactic as "monkey defense" because he looks just like an angry age who lost his banana.
Whether basketball is in his future or not I am so proud to call this sweet happy boy mine.
