What a GREAT DAY

[Guest guest]

we had a MAJOR breakthrough..

Before the JRA started happening (about 6 months ago) Hayden was

about to turn 4. He was begging to play tball since his 4 yr old

friends were. We signed him up. he was the youngest on the team by

far. Right before t-ball began is when he had two major flare ups

that left him unable to walk for about 2 weeks.

Anyway, every practice and game has begun with him in tears. He says

it's too hard, he's not good enough, he's too slow. We tell him over

and over that we (and his coaches), just want him to do his best. We

praised him when he tried hard, no matter what..etc. THe tantrums

were driving me nuts, even though I did my best to be undertanding.

We almost quit all together..but he would have been CRUSHED if he

didn't get a trophy.

Well today he was really sore. I almost didn't take him. But he said

over and over, he wanted to go, he wanted a trophy. So he went and

did awsome! He went right in with his team, did his very best, not a

whimper! And for the first time ever he scored! He usually gets

tagged out because he's so so slow. He was just beaming with pride.

The whole team cheared him on so loud, coaches told him how proud

they were, etc. He feels soo good about himself.

I told my husband that Hayden should not quit, but just do his best

because I don't want him to think that JRA is going to take control

of his life, limit him, etc. And although having to deal with pain

is very hard...it's a hard lesson he must learn. It's a part of his

life now. Anyway, i'm SO glad we didn't let him give up. He woudl

have missed out on a big lesson..that practice makes perfect. He

worked SO hard for that feeling he got today. Even if he can't do

jumping jacks, throw far, or run fast like the others.

I just had to share. I knew you all would " Get it " . It was more than

his first RBI...that trophy will be very well deserved.

Falen