I will soon add wannabe basketball coach to my CV.
As a student, gym was not my strong subject. I did well in sports like cross country and baseball, but basketball terrified me.
Similarly, participating in class, including gym, is an ongoing struggle for T in Grade 1, his first full year of in-person learning.
T’s gym teacher and CYW noted this Spring that T enjoys and is good at basketball.
The hubby and I try to take a strengths-based approach to learning for T. It’s important to build on things he feels good about to buffer the difficult moments in school.
Part of this requires both T and us to adopt a learning mindset: to be willing to try new things, make mistakes, and learn together.
We recently bought T his own basketball to practice and play with during weekends and over the summer in the nearby school.
Do I know what I’m doing? Not really, but we’ll learn and have fun together!
Physical activity and the outdoors provide a great way for kids like T to burn excess energy and regulate emotions.
T picked up biking again after showing no interest last summer. We’re optimistic the training wheels will come off this summer.
Outdoor pools open this month! The hubby is registering T for his first lessons and looking for instructors that support kids with ADHD.
Last Sunday, we took T to his first rugby game.
T’s gym teacher recently invited rugby players to present to his class and they invited the school to their final game of the season.
It was really fun to do something different during our often quiet weekends at home.
We had no idea what the hell was going on, but watching buff guys colliding against each other was appealing. 😆
Toronto lost the game and it gave T a good introductory lesson in sports life:
You don’t always win, but you keep trying, have fun, pick yourself up, and move on.
Just wait till T becomes a Maple Leafs fan!
It’s incredible how much energy kids have. It sounds like there’s a wide range of activities that T is interested in and that you are playing to his strengths, keeping him (and yourselves) active, and sneaking some good life lessons in along the way. By the way, that’s an interesting looking basketball net. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one like that before.
Thanks Linda. I’m so ready for summer. School will be out in less than 3 weeks and so many fun things planned, including camping! 🙂
I called it a net but it’s kinda an introduction tool to basketball for younger kids. Not sure what to call it other than a net. 😆
Just when I thought you couldn’t get any better! You both are amazing Dads, I just can’t say it enough.
Thank you Diane! T makes life interesting for sure. 😊
You are so awesome!! Just think – with each new sport, there are so many great quotes that you can add to the notes you give T in the morning. Like Michael Jordan, “I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”
I love your posts – they pump me up for parenting and overcoming and being positive. What a gift!
Thank you, Wynne! I didn’t even think about using sports quotes on our morning post-it notes. I love that idea and love the Michael Jordan quote. Thank you! 😊 Enjoy the (almost) weekend!!!
I always think people who can play basketball have special talents. I just don’t know how they can do dribbling while running at the same time! I was so bad at it I kept tossing the ball to a nearby teammate every time I received it from someone. 😆 But if I were in your position — having a kid who’s good at it — I think I would do the same like you. After watching that rugby match, did T become interested in it?
That was my strategy too! Just pass it to the next person so it’s their problem. 😂 He doesn’t seem overly interested in rugby at this point. But I think he’d be good at it if he gives it a try.
So cool one of your jams was Cross Country. Mine too. Basketball was always so fun, even now I like to play Horse with the boys. I still have a sweet spot shot…sometimes lol
Thanks Rebecca. I liked cross country running cuz it was solitary, I guess. Might do the FASD Run this fall if I can build up my endurance again! 😊 As a grown up, I can see the appeal – and feel less intimidated – by basketball.
Looks like you are about to have a busy summer, and T is not the only one that will get fit!
Thank you! Summer is the best part of the year and we’re gonna soak it all up. 😊