Two of a Kind, Workin on a Full House: upward sports

Basketball season is upon us. Luke is once again coaching Leighton and McCabe's team, the Foxes.

My first basketball post will not be like my first soccer post where I was genuinely impressed with the skill level of both of the boys from the beginning. Basketball is such a challenging sport. There are more rules. It requires more coordination. It requires more control. Only the most talented and intelligent of people can make it in this sport. This is where I tell you that I played basketball and Luke only played soccer! Haha. I'm obviously not saying one easier at older ages, but everyone can admit that for 4 and 5 year olds, basketball is much more challenging!

Anyway, who cares about talent yet. Kindergarten basketball is about a few things:

1. Starting. Doesn't God himself say to never despise small beginnings? Everything starts somewhere. Learning is about building upon what you learned yesterday and the day before and the day before that. 1st grade basketball wouldn't be what is it without Kindergarten basketball the year before.

2. Bringing excitement to your kids. I can confidently say that little kids light up when they are in uniform. They feel pretty special. It may have helped that each player was introduced over the loud speaker with intense music playing in the background, while running out to give the coach a high five with all of the eyes of the crowd on you and your muscles, but I think they love the idea of being part of a team, working towards a goal, trying to accomplish something like making a basket, drinking water from a sports water bottle, wearing a uniform, high five-ing, and even getting to do what they see the big guys do on TV. They were so excited their first practice. They were so excited their first game. Oh the things you'll do so see your kids so happy.

3. Meeting new people. It is such a good opportunity for Luke and I to meet new people and serve them and hopefully share Christ with them. It is also a good opportunity for the kids to meet new kids, learn their names, give them high fives, practice being a good teammate, practice begin encouraging, practice being selfless (Leighton's assist helped us talk about that!), and even getting to share Christ with them too.

4. Increasing their independence ever so slightly. Ugggh. Can we not talk about this? Can I not think about this. Every year, every season (especially as multiple kids are on multiple teams and cannot all be coached by Luke), the kids need to learn more and more about being under authority of coaches, referees, even league rules. They will slowly learn to take on more responsibility. This year it is getting their own jersey on, filling their own water bottle and bringing it too and from the game. But each ear they will do more and more. Seriously, how often to I go a whole hour without instructing my kids, constantly taking care of needs, interceding, interrupting, teaching, and so on and so forth? Not often. But in there first game, as I chased Wynnlee around the church, I didn't interact with them at all. Yes I took mental notes and analyzed a few things I saw to subtly work with them on this week. And Sure I cheered a few times. And maybe, just maybe, they could hear my cheer above them all because they were listening ever so intently for it. But most likely they didn't even hear my encouragement. Wow. It may not be profound to you, but it is to me. Basketball is just one of many millions of opportunities, changes, seasons, growth areas in which my kids will learn a little more about independence, and I will learn a little more about watching. Can someone remind me why we signed up to start this process this year? Obviously I am way ahead of myself. And clearly this is very dramatic on my end, but starting sports this year as been a huge milestone for me as a mother and you can laugh all you want, but it is thoughts like these that keep me sober, taking every moment in, cherishing every dribble (even the ones that bounce too high and hit their nose), every shot (even squirming my body to try to bend the ball towards the rim and in the hoop in hopes of helping my child succeed), and they remind me of the big picture of what I want for my kids and what I need to do to guide them there.

5. Watching your kids succeed/improve. I'd by lying if I didn't include this as one of the reasons. Of course we are proud of our kids no matter what their basketball accomplishments are. And we are very meticulous, cautious, mindful and calculated about not overvaluing worldly things like sports, looks and even academics, but nonetheless, it is awesome to see your kids do well. It is a small picture of what we are shooting for. That big picture I mentioned before. It is a taste of hard work leading to success. Or practice leading to success. Or willingness to learn something new leading to success. Or sometimes sheer talent from God leading to success. And success mind you, is not just merely making a basket. Success is improvement. Success is when you reap something positive from sowing in that area. Success it a great attitude when you have to take your turn out to sit on the bench. Success is giving your brother a high five for scoring instead of being jealous because it wasn't you. Success is learning how to dribble more under control. Success it understanding the importance of passing and getting your first assist. (Way to go Leighton!) And yes sometimes persevering in shooting for the whole game, until finally that 20th shot goes in (Way to go McCabe!). What a cool thing for them to experience and it is a cool thing for a parent to watch. When you know your child was poor at something or has never learned something before, and you watch them work hard, improve and do it successfully, it is quite special.

6. For the pictures. Ok so I'm only a little serious about this one. Pictures or even better yet, videos of Kindergarten basketball games are priceless. You'll see what I mean below. I will try to get some video to post on the blog. But I make no promises. My phone is full. The game moves really fast. And well, usually my hands are full. But I will try .

I am sure there are several more reasons, but I'm getting long winded. And sleepy. So lets get to those pictures.