So remember back here when I said all that mumbo-jumbo about how I didn't want to push our kids into any one particular sport?
Well, maybe I'd like to change my mind on that one.
Because over the last couple months I realized this little fact: it's kind of fun to have a child on a school team. And that's just junior high. I bet high school is even more exhilarating.
Is it bad to live out your dreams in your children?
Ok, I totally kid. And I'm not a "pusher" no matter how much I try to "push" my own self to be one.
But I'm serious about the fun thing.
Maybe it was because Elle lucked out to be on a really, really good team.
These girls are amazing players.
They never lost a game.
The whole season. Not one loss.
Or maybe it's because I knew my daughter was learning things that would change her life for the better.
I know that sounds dramatic, but seriously, not only was she learning volleyball skills, but she was learning a hard work ethic (practice for two hours every single day after school and then straight to tennis some days, and then on to homework...this girl has worked HARD the last couple months). And she was learning the importance of working as a team. 
And how it feels to sit on the bench...the fun times:
And the not-so-fun times too:
She learned how scary it can be to have a team depend on you and it scared her pants off at first:
But she gained more and more confidence through the season.
(She didn't play a whole heck of a lot, but much more than we anticipated having never played before the camp she did right before school started...she had a really good coach.)
She learned how great it is to get out of your shell and push yourself. And the value of having one good friend to begin with:
It makes making other new friends that much easier.
Maybe one of the reasons I fell in love with team sports has to do with the fans I got to hang out with:
These cute girls even got some face-painting fans:
I learned the value of an iPad for keeping a five-year-old happy game after game (the games were every Tuesday AND Thursday afternoon).
Of course, squinkies sure help too:
And the value of having another volleyball-playing child at my side explaining all the techniques to me and having little post-game talks with his sister.
And last but not least, I fell in love because volleyball is really fun to watch.
Last week they went ahead and won the championships.
They were all so excited.
(volleyball kids)
So, the bottom line is that wow, school sports are pretty darn fun.
And we are pretty darn proud of this girl:
She's ready to focus on tennis for a little while and isn't sure she wants to go for volleyball again in high school, but it sure has been a fun ride.
We will hardly know what to do with ourselves with no more games to go to :) Luckily Max has a big tournament in a couple weeks. Can't wait for that one.Labels: Elle, sports
(She didn't play a whole heck of a lot, but much more than we anticipated having never played before the camp she did right before school started...she had a really good coach.)
It makes making other new friends that much easier.
(volleyball kids)
She's ready to focus on tennis for a little while and isn't sure she wants to go for volleyball again in high school, but it sure has been a fun ride.