Thoughts for today…

Ice Hockey in July!

As I have said before, it seems that any sport in which your player aspires to be best, that sport turns into a year round obstacle course, a balancing act of time, effort and sanity.  Ice Hockey in the south and I would assume, the north is no different.  In June, Mo participated in the Elite Edge Camp here in Nashville, a great success.  He learned so much, but especially that you cannot wait until the last minute to prepare.  Hard lesson, but valuable.  Then came the Jr. Predator’s push and tryouts.  He did well, played hard and worried that he wouldn’t make it.  I tell him that there is always someone trying to take your place and there always is, even in the NHL.  He prepared and was ready; tried out and made the Midget 16U AAE (AA league play, AAA tournaments) and fortunately made the team.   Unfortunately for us, now comes the hard work.  Mo has to begin physical aspects of off ice training, working through time management for school that is upcoming, high school tryouts and play, AAE practice, high school practice, gas money, sponsorship as I worry okay, how are we going to pay for this.  We still are seeking out a company sponsor to aid in this as well as camps and such as Mo is aiming toward a northern prep ice hockey school in the upcoming years.  That’s a different article and subject.  Sniff, sniff.  Did I mention also that my son has a summer job as a lifeguard?  Yep.

Lifeguards hard at work! Jaime on left, then Mo

Mo will begin school around the first of August (we are year round), along with working on weekends, hockey practice, school and keeping grades As and Bs and even with all of this, he still wants it!

As a goalie mom, I want him to work hard and achieve his dreams, but as a mom with her youngest child now driving, I wish it would slow down, just a bit.  Let him be a teenager learning to live life, learn how to become a good man, a great person and  how to be a success in life.  So, the two merge, it is my job, I think, trying to allowing him to experience both in a balance that provide opportunities without burnout.  Such a cliff; one wrong step or misstep if you will, can change everything!  How do we know to push or pull?  I believe sometimes that both answers will be the way to go depending on the circumstance you face.  Just like there is no parental guide book, neither is there a guide for athletes and really, should there be?  Isn’t it truly not up to us, but to the player on that next step and our hands to catch or push as circumstances may dictate?  I wish I knew.  What I do know for sure is that it does appear my boys (all four) seem to be well rounded, good guys.  I try not to be a backstage mom, but supportive in every aspect.  Even if they decided they wanted to be a professional log roller, I would be there, supporting their efforts.   I could only hope that it would be as much fun as standing at the glass watching my son and his team come together as a  one unit; striving for the win and not fighting against the current.

Mo loves the challenge of white water!

It is mid July and both the Northeastern and Southeastern United States have been experiencing a record breaking heatwave.  Here in Nashville, we were actually the hottest on one day with a record breaking temperature of 109 and at the same time, it was 106 in Chicago.  Hmm, coincidence?  I think not!   You know, Canada looks at us, America the same as our northern states view our southern hockey players as wannabe’s, easy pickins.  Maybe not all, but a lot and they are impressed when we are competitive.  With this aspect, in order for players to achieve their dream and strive to be noticed, it is for them, to be in the north.  Jacob is working toward the prep hockey school or billet family willing to take him in and take the next step toward his hockey career.  I am hoping that my emotions of allowing my youngest to go and live out the latter school years somewhere else, will not be a misstep.  I am hoping to appear courageous and stand tall, holding the tears back as my not yet a man, no longer a boy steps into taking control of his destiny.

I believe a lot of hand holding will be needed as I too, step into the next phase our my life and let him do what he needs to be done in order for him to become the man God has planned;  in the arms of strangers.  However for now, I get to enjoy another season of hockey with Jacob playing as a Jr. Predator and me standing at the glass.

As always, thanks for your support and sharing in our lives as hockey parents.

Stay thirsty my friends!

Lori

What a blast!!!