For the Foot Undies!

Futsal is fun to watch. It is faster and smarter than soccer.  Little Mother has made a few goals, but not consistently in her new occasional position as forward.  It was frustrating to watch her get within field goal range and watch the other team take it away.  It takes courage and confidence to take the shot. Briz and I lectured (we called it teaching), and yelled from the sidelines.  But nothing materially changed. 

So it was the final game of the season.  How to get her to try more often, to risk, so she can see success?  All three of the kids must buy everything but their underwear these days... long story, but our attempt to keep them from entitlement.  "Is there anything you are really desperate for?"  I asked.  "I've got to have foot undies by Friday for our dance competitions."  She replied. 

"How are you for money?" 

"I've only got $5.00 and they are $15.  I'm going to be in such trouble." 

"I've got $5.00 for each goal you make tonight."

"What about a really cool move?"

"Nope.  Only a goal will do.  Remember you'll need to take a lot of shots to get one.  Maybe even 10 to get one in the goal."

She's on fire that girl.  She charges, she swivels, she takes away. And each time she gets the ball I scream from the sidelines, "FOR THE FOOT UNDIES!"  How often does a parent get to say something like that?  It works.  She boots it in.  The game continues.  I continue my happy chant and enjoy the strange looks from the other parents.  She gets the ball, looks at me and I call her remembrance to the foot undies and in it goes again.  Foot Undies achieved, but really confidence achieved. I knew she could do it, she just had to take the shots. 

Choir concert one half hour after the game.  We are all lagging from the busy schedule.  I promise her friends.  Doughnuts for all, just do your best.  After a superb concert, we gather outside to the envy of all passers by for grasshopper, salted caramel mocha, raspberry mango and blueberry doughnuts.  I don't always have money for rewards... treats.... spoiling my kids.  But I did today.  And it was such a small thing for large happiness.

I wonder how often I dribble the ball outside the goal and my Heavenly Father is yelling, "Take the Shot!"  But I wait for the perfect opportunity, so afraid to mess up.  Other times, I am so tired I don't want to do what is best for me.  But he is so patient and devises rewards for even the smallest effort to give me courage to try again.

Heavenly Father's individualized pizza night

 

Some need a gluten free crust, most like regular.  Some like lots of cheese, but others need a dairy free option of nutritional yeast. I have pepperoni for some, Canadian bacon for others and a variety of vegetables for those with advanced healthy palates.  For the games, most can have sugar but others have to have a prize of sugar free gum.  Most drink pineapple soda but I make a sugar free option of peaches and cream for the two of us that are sugar free.  It is a LOT of work to pull off pizza night. 

I think of my children.  Could any three people be more different?  Three separate learning plans... one for special needs, one hard worker, and one too quick for her own good.  One has one friend, another has hundreds... literally.  The other has a handful of friends she likes to do things with.  Spiritually, same story. 

When my sweetie and I meet together to discuss the children, it is very hard to set tons of hard and fast rules.  One is ready for certain privileges and can handle the added responsibility and others may not be.  Nothing is across the board. 

Is it any wonder that our lives are so unique?  Can I wonder that Heavenly Father gives us such different paths, and works with us so individually.  Tonight, however, instead of just accepting that as a fact, I am filled with wonder at a God who can fill more orders than I can at pizza night.  Not hundreds of individualized orders, or thousands, but numerous children to cater to individually. 

And what is even more amazing, he meets each of us one by one on our own terms.  It is a real time commitment to give each of my daughters a special date each month of a few hours of undivided attention.  But this is the time they glow and bask in my attention; when they open up and share their lives.  Ladybug and I, we dine together in her school lunch room.  She and her friend, Sonja, escort me to my car.  It is a GOOD thing. And God, to him each of us is loved and dealt with as if we were the only one. 

It boggles my mind.  What a great bit of experience parenthood is and how very young and immature I am in the process. 

Date at Scheels

I didn't know it mattered when we stopped.  But all three brought it up a month ago.  Individual dates please. We miss them.  We need them.  We assigned them all a day of the month... the day they were born.  Unfortunately, that gives me two within three days.

Sunshine says, "this is so not you Mom!  You don't destroy things.  Hmmm.  Little does she know I am a special agent in many of my dreams.  Russ takes a look at the picture and says, "I need to teach you how to shoot a hand gun.  You don't crumple over like that."

Sunshine's favorite restaurant is Zuppa's... Wisconsin Cauliflower soup and grilled cheese.