Soccer Update: Breakthrough

Hi Moms. For all those who have followed my Soccer Woes, you will be glad to hear that there has been a breakthrough. He LOVES soccer. I was working on a film project this past Saturday morning and had to rely on my mother to take my 4-year old son to his Soccer game. Upon my (late) arrival, I saw my son running up the field chasing the ball. I immediately started to jump and down so excited. As I approached our teams side, the other mothers and fathers were beaming at my witnessing of his turnaround. (They had all seen him last week being this great Soccer player; I was out of town on business.) It was funny because the coaches, on the other hand, were giving me the "quiet" motion so not to get him all shy again. But low and behold, he did not retreat to what had been his norm for the past 2 1/2 months. He continued to be aggressive on Offense (even if he was kicking the ball the wrong way). I was so happy.

And you know why I was happy? Breakthrough. Not because he was succeeding at being an athlete. It was because whatever was the roadblock (my opinion, shyness and introvertedness), it was removed. The coaches and the other parents were correct: he will come into the game in his own time. Gosh! As parents how hard is it to hear that? In...their...own...time. Not ours, not societies, not even to our religious beliefs...but their own time. Their psyche works in its own way and we have to be courageous enough to let them go through these stages with love and patience.

Gosh! That was an amazing sight to see. He was happy and laughing and playing hard...because it was in his own time.

Blessings to you Mommies out there!
Aurellia

Guns, Knives and Other Things Used to Kill Cartoons

Ok, is it just me or are other Mommies out there so not ok with their little one playing with McDonald Happy Meal toy characters (who look like real people) that use knives and guns? After soccer, I went ahead and a Happy Meal for my son. As I am taking everything out of the bag (he had already been given the toy), I notice he is making shooting noises with his mouth. I looked over at amazement and said, "What is that?" He said, "It's a knive and a gun." I said, "What are those for?" He said, "To kill people." I stopped for a moment and thought to myself, How do I address this one? So I simply had the conversation with him that killing people is not a good thing. He said he understood but went right back to playing with the toy.

This had me thinking about the impact playing with these toys and watching cartoons where weapons are used. These are bad, I told him. This behavior isn't good, I said. But then my mind went to the current wars around the world that are being fought, in the name of Justice and Liberty. How is this any different than the man in Santa Clara, CA who shot and killed people at his job in the name of Justice? Where is the line drawn as to what is acceptable and what is not acceptable?

I hear that boys will be boys and let them play with these toys and video games and watch these cartoons; it's only pretend. But then I wonder what type of precedence this sets in his mind as to what are appropriate tools to use when one is attempting to 'defend' their own rights and honor? Deal with their anger and frustration? So many studies have been conducted that have shown men who were exposed to violence on television at a young age over a period of time were likely to have commited crimes and serve jail time. And let's not add other statistics to the case which aided in the outcome of their "freedom".

Goodness! I guess him not playing in the soccer games are the least of my concerns these days.

Blessings,
Aurellia