First Tri-Meet

Tonight was the first (un-cancelled) middle school wrestling meet. I took five kids on an hour bus ride (my six wrestler had the whooping cough).

Expectations were high. Or at least I felt they were. The kids circled up and came up with a cheer.

We didn't live up to expectations. One wrestler won both his matches, but the rest lost all of theirs. I felt we had a lot of knowledge, but not a lot of execution. My wrestlers tended to be more passive and reactive. Most allowed their opponent to work their moves instead of working their moves against their opponent. Some of it was conditioning related, too. The periods were a minute and a half and we've only practiced with minute periods in practice (the length from the first tournament). With my limited time and attendance, I haven't run nearly as much drill and conditioning as I could.

I think the kids still had fun. It's a growth opportunity for all of us. I need to incorporate more drill and conditioning into practice. Really, I need more time. Practice is five days a week, from 3:30 to 4:30, but really it's from 4:00-4:30. The middle school bus drops the kids off at 3:50 at the opposite end of the school. They trek across and then take a few minutes to lace up. Most of the kids only make it out three days a week. They have band/orchestra rehearsals/practices for grades, test reviews, etc, etc.

I've got some ideas to move forward. The kids are better than they would have been if the team didn't exist. I want to help them go further.

Meanwhile, Carrie and Shane had ice cream for dinner.

Does that seem right to you?

Nightmares continued

Shane called out. It was 10:30 PM.

I raced up the stairs and scooped him up. He cried and took rapid breaths. "Daddy, I have to tell you something!"

I held him and rubbed his back slowly. I tried project calm; To shh and slow him down.

I don't think Shane was fully awake. He repeated himself, "Daddy, I have to tell you something." He seemed to calm, and then his breath would pick up pace again. "Daddy, I have to tell you something."

I'd heard/read that sometimes little kids could still be in the dream and seem awake. The shoe seemed to fit.

Before, I had said things meant to ground Shane. "You're safe. You're in your room. Feel the blanket. Feel the warm." etc. etc.

I shifted to "What do you need to tell me?"

Shane couldn't say. He stared into space, calmed, hyped, and repeated himself again.

After a couple of repeats, I switched to "Tell me your name." I wanted to see if he was coherent.

Shane didn't answer at first. Was it only a minute? I said, "Your name is Shane. Tell me your name."

"Shane."

The nightmare was broken.

Shane didn't remember whatever he dreamt. I tucked him back in, told him I loved him, gave a kiss, and left the room. He was probably asleep before the door shut.

The nightmares happen about three or four times a week. Tonight's was one of the most vivid. The nightmares usually hit between 10 and 11. I stay up just in case. I don't think they happen after that or there're small enough I sleep through them. Carrie woke me up for one at 12:30 Monday or Tuesday night, but that was an anomaly. 

I intervene in about half. I think there's a fine line between helping and preventing growth, but I can't say I know exactly where it is. Carrie and I have mostly played a "Shhh, you need your sleep" calm approach. We make sure Shane has his blanky, a night light, and emphasize his room is safe. "You'll be fine! We love you. Say a prayer, or call for us if you need us."

Thankfully, if there is a nightmare... "The good dream comes after the bad dream, right?" Shane asked.

"Yes. Good dreams come next. You need your sleep so you can run, jump, learn, and play tomorrow."

That pattern has held. Everyone basically gets the sleep they need and life has gone on. I pray that Shane learns how to confront his nightmares or grows out of them eventually. Until then, we're here to help and comfort when we can.

Find Shane

Hint: One of these little boys isn't sitting like the others.

This isn't new!

Sharks and minnows will guarantee he wants to go back.

Drone Flight Gone Awry

Sunday morning, a blue figure ran across the lawn. Charlie and her dad were flying a Christmas drone. When Shane and I went out to greet them, an updraft hit. The drone gained altitude and hovered over trees and houses.

New game: Group drone hunt!

We won.

Raheem Sighting

Raheem stopped by on Saturday. We hadn't seen him since before break! He has to go home when it gets dark out. On school/wrestling days, I don't get home with Shane until the sun has set. As the days get longer, we'll probably see more of our friend.

Saturday Sports

Saturday was sports, sports, and more sports.

I started the day off at a wrestling tournament. Shane went to Mommy's barn first and got dropped off later.

Coach K's kids were there!

The kids raced all over after our first match. I played line guard and stood on the far side, so no one could run onto an active mat. I made the awesome move/mistake of showing them how to sling each other around in circles. When the boys each grabbed one of Kira's arms and tried to sling her opposite directions, I had to establish some guidelines. There were no injuries to report. Only lots of fun. The kids hid in a corner and played Perry on my phone when the wrestling started back up. I don't think most people realize how kid friendly wrestling tournaments can be.

That night, Shane and I drove down to Lynchburg for hockey. Kyle was in the neighborhood again!

December 17th, before bed time and out-of-the-blue,

Shane: "Daddy, am I going to see Kyle again?"

Me: "Kyle? Sure. Did you like hockey?

Shane: "Oh yes!"

Of course, I texted Kyle. "Tell us when you're in our neighborhood again!"

Saturday, was the day.

Kyle reffed a match between Liberty and WVU. It was a beautiful arena. Shane and I saw every inch of it.

"I tried to keep track of you all, but you were in a different part of the stadium every time I turned around!" Kyle said.

Yup.

Everywhere.

We even rode the elevator between periods.

It was a small arena, but it smelled of new. New and expensive.

We thought the mini-kids rink was awesome.

 We found a stray puck in the stands, later. It performed admirably.

I never knew soccer would help Shane in hockey. 

When the match ended (9-0 for Liberty), Shane ran the locker room corridors to wait for Kyle. 

When I tired, I forked over my phone.

Shane, Kyle, and the other refs went to dinner after they cleaned off. Shane wedged himself next to Kyle in the booth. I wish I had a picture. Shane probably thought it was the coolest thing. He got to eat a fancy PB&J, sit next to Kyle, at a table of hockey refs/players, and watch Little Einsteins on my phone.

I enjoyed talking to Kyle and his colleagues. There was a melee on Friday night that refused to quit. Round 2 was scheduled the next day. Everyone voted Kyle to don the armband (head ref). They talked shop and I learned what I could. It's neat to hear about the behind the scenes world they walk. All of the refs travel much farther than you'd expect, too.

I thought Shane would fall asleep on the ride home. He proved me wrong. The trip was worth it. I didn't realize the first trip was way back in October. Where did the time go?

Thursday Trips?

I think it's time to revive an old tradition. 

Shane willingly ate lettuce for the first time when we visited John. Today, we added "mushrooms." I did not like that idea. However, I didn't want to say 'no' when Shane was willing to expand his diet.

Imagine my relief when I found out: A)Subway has no mushrooms and B) Shane meant onions all along. He just didn't remember what they were called.

We ended up with a sandwich we were both happy with. I think the real reason Shane wanted to visit Subway was dessert, though.

We took our time to eat. Shane entertained the staff. We played 'hopscotch.'

I got dizzy when I tried to get him to do 360s.

That's Not a Gut....

Where did that blankie go? Shane couldn't find it!

I suggested he look in his sheets, under his bed, in his drawers...I was the model of helpful.

The New Beta

Carrie brought home a surprise from the pet store.

At least it was cheaper than last time. Our previous fish didn't survive tank cleaning and moving. I thought we'd kicked the fish habit, but I was wrong.

Our instinct for trouble came next: We introduced the cats to the fish.

River was terrified.

Bucket didn't want anything to do with the beta either. I half-suspect she thought Carrie placing her on the counter was some sort of trap.

Max was the only one who showed any spirit.

She tried to escape, too, but Carrie held her long enough for the fish to catch her eye.

Shane enjoyed the show.

He's probably the biggest threat to the fish's health. He wants to feed it a lot. He asked at least five times a day the first couple of days we had Red Rocket-Jaw (as Shane dubbed him).

"Follow the recipe!"

Shane played his first sou chef role tonight. Carrie bought a sugar cookie set on Christmas clear-out.

The boy was pumped. Overenthusiastic, even. It upped the challenge level for Carrie! She let him whisk the eggs, pour the flour, and stir the mix. The dough was too wet when the cookie cutter came out and Mommy had to improvise.

Carrie never likes to follow a recipe, anyway (especially when the base recipe doesn't work). The sugar cookies were upgraded to snickerdoodles.

Shane was eager to help until the TV came on. That allowed Carrie to finish up! Shane ate dinner perfectly distracted.

Dessert was ready when the episode finished.