Hard Work

After Elle was born it quickly became clear that she wouldn't be released within 48 hours. At that point I was overwhelmed with all that we needed to do regarding our older children. Of all the things that weighed on my shoulders football for the boys was at the top of my list. Elle was born on Thursday and football practiced was starting on Monday. Of course I know how silly that sounds, football being my biggest concern, but it wasn't as much about football as it was about ALL the hard work Ethan had put into getting ready for this season.

At the beginning of summer Brian and I sat down with the children to set and write out their summer goals. Ethan had a lot of goals, but his number 1 goal was to play running back this fall in football.

After that goal was set a plan was made to accomplish the goal. Ethan spent countless hours working out and practicing to get ready for evaluations to show the coaches that he was ready to play running back for their team. I have never seen or known a kid to work so hard for something. He gave it his all, literally his blood sweat and tears went into getting ready.

And he was ready.

This being our 3rd year playing in this league I knew how positions would work. For Ethan's team the coaches pick the boys based off evaluations for certain positions (especially running back) and they start position work in their first practice. If Ethan was drafted for running back I couldn't let him lose the spot he worked his heart out for just because he wasn't there. I wanted this for him as much or more then he wanted it, and I couldn't let us being in a different state hurt his chances. So the decision was made to get the children home so the boys would only miss one practice.

Tonight was the first scrimmage, and Ethan played running back. He did great! It took nearly the whole team to bring him down. I am so proud of him. Brian and I have been preaching and teaching the importance of hard work to all the children, and today Ethan enjoyed the rewards of his hard work.

Of course the hard work isn't close to over as he has to continue to practice, work hard, and improve.