Rebound

It goes without saying that N didn’t like being given constructive criticism, but I think he responded in a positive way by working harder and answering the call. I’m not one who believes in being hard on kids and pushing them to the extreme, but I also think that it’s not good to go through life only hearing good things and positive feedback. The reality is, none of us is perfect, and if we’re always being told how great we are, when we get out into the real world and hear the cold hard truth, it can be devastating. I see it all the time in people whose hands are held for them. When the have to deal with the harsh realities of life, they give up and quit, or just walk away. Not the best way to go through life.

Again, I don’t like to see the kids feel bad, that’s not the point, but I also think it’s important for them to understand that everything they do is not always perfect. On that note, N came out at the next hockey practice and skated that much harder and took to heart the coaches message. In the process, he’s becoming a better hockey player and learning the value of hard work and perseverance, not to mention that life isn’t only about being told how great you are, even if you are.

Until the next time, thanks for reading, and thanks to o5com for the pic.

Skating Through Life

The new era of my new skates has begun, and they sure feel nice, sort of. Like any new shoe or piece of equipment, there seems to be a breaking in period, which entails a bit of pain and suffering. Then again, what’s a little pain and suffering when it involves hockey, the real man’s sport. Since the material is new, I am experiencing a little chafing on the shins, but the foot part feels good.

In fact, in my first game with my new skates, I didn’t score a goal, but I did manage to do something even more astounding - I eluded the amazing GG, who might very well have simply let up and let me skate past him, but it still felt like I skated past him. Bear in mind, GG is an incredible hockey player, so much so that he probably belongs in the A league. Usually he zips by me and stops me in my tracks when I try to do the same. This time around we were going for the puck and I got there first. I took it and rounded the net then headed up the ice, and somehow managed to elude GG. Also, we managed to beat the mighty Green Team.

Can I attribute all this to my new skates? Sure, why not? I’m the author of this story... sort of.

Until the next time, thanks for reading, and thanks to jenover2010 for the pic.

Put On the Spot

As usual, our kids put us on the spot and we had to deal with a spontaneous situation, which as you know, I don’t do well with. Then again, it’s good to confront them and deal with them because you can’t live your life hiding in your comfort zone, right?

Anyway, it was after open stick on a non-school day. The kids all wanted to hang out at their friend’s house, and the father, who was out there with us on the ice, was also put on the spot. I don’t know what he was actually feeling, but his response was reminiscent of how I would have reacted, which was to agree with some reservation, because you don’t feel right about saying no in front of the friends. The reason this comes into play is because deep in my heart, I’d rather just go home and deal with all the things I need to deal with, and I am not good at quick decisions. I need time to think and process things, so when requests are dropped on me with no warning, I hem and haw. My first impulse is to say no, and then give it some thought, but with kids, you just aren’t given that luxury.

My point is, I think SS was put on the spot like that, and he might have felt like he didn’t want to say yes, but couldn’t say no. It worked out fine, the kids had fun and having playmates makes life easier on the parents, it’s just that initial moment that’s uncomfortable. I wish I was more relaxed like JG and GG, who are so warm and welcome to everyone around them. They just go with the flow, and whomever goes to their house is made to feel unquestionably welcome. Something to aspire to.

Until the next time, thanks for reading.

Not So Fuzzy Feeling

There’s no question that we are hockey crazy over here. N got the ball rolling, and I think of it as really his thing, but you realize that he’s still pretty new to the game, especially relative to the other kids, some of whom have been skating since they were three, and playing hockey for 5-6 years. This is N’s second year, so he’s still catching up, but doing a fine job.

Anyway, with so much to learn, there’s bound to be some bumps in the road, especially when you have a hardcore coach like DF. Throw in some enthusiastic dads who don’t know how to keep their cool, and it can get pretty intense during games, what with parents and coaches and players barking out orders. The other day at a game, N was given directives in a less than soft and fuzzy manner, and he took it to heart, more than he needed to. He’s a sensitive boy, and it upset him. I think he really gets bummed when he thinks he did something wrong, which is unwarranted because everyone does something wrong. We’re learning here.

Anyway, after the game, N was crabby and grouchy, and we had to explain to him that in the heat of the game, ideas are not always expressed in a tactful manner, and he shouldn’t take it personally. I think the coaches believe in N and his potential, but when you’re a kid, it’s hard to grasp that. You just remember getting yelled at.

I don’t know if it helps, but the coaches yell at every kid, not to mention the other coaches, some just take it harder than others. It’s possible the message stung a little more because he was aware that he did something wrong. Who knows? All that matters is that he understands it’s not a question of fault, it’s about learning the game and making mistakes along the way. We all do it.

He says he still loves the game, and he’s getting better every day, so we’ll just go with that.

Until the next time, thanks for reading, and thanks to Tom Olliver for the pic.

Good Bunch of Kids

I just wanted to mention that way back when, when we were down in Mass for the tournament, a couple of sources complimented our players on their good behavior. First off, the coach of the opposing team in the final came over to our locker room after the game and told us how respectful our team was and how much class our players displayed in defeating them. In his words, “They could have pounded us, but they kept it honorable and dignified.” I agree.

The people at the hotel also commented on well behaved the kids were in their hotel. In fact, they said of all the teams that came through, ours were their favorite. The manager even joked that another hotel called to see if our players needed a place to stay, and she said they couldn’t have our players because they wanted them in their hotel. Kind of funny.

I have to say, I kind of agree. Our players were not crazy and wild. I saw kids playing hockey in the hallways, making a mess, and that didn’t happen with us. Our kids kept the rowdiness confined to within our rooms, and since DF enforced a curfew, there wasn’t any late night debauchery.

I’m proud of our guys on a number of levels, but I can’t help but say that credit goes to DF. It’s his team, and he sets the bar high.

Until the next time, thanks for reading, and thanks to adele.turner for the pic.

Trying To Finish the Woodpile

Our kids were asking me if my goal was to finish the woodpile before winter kicked into full gear, and after I said yes, they said, not without a blatant sense of cynicism, “Good luck.”

Thanks a lot. I think I can get it done, as long as the wood pile doesn’t freeze into one big mass. This is a real possibility given that it’s beginning to snow, but not the end of the world. If I can’t pry the pieces apart, I’ll just leave them until next Spring. This is obviously less than ideal, but that’s what happens when you put things off.

Fortunately, we’re set for this winter in terms of wood. We’ll see where this goes. Until then, thanks for reading, and thanks to Brissy Girl for the pic.

New Skates

I try to do my best to live on the cheap, as many of you may know, and this is especially true when it comes to hockey. That doesn’t mean hockey isn’t important (it’s so important), but at least for me, having new and expensive equipment is not the point. For the kids it’s a different story, sometimes they need new stuff, especially when all of their friends have it. I really don’t think expensive stuff will make a difference in the sort of player that you are, it’s more about the image and wanting to be cool.

Either way, I play hockey on used or cheap stuff. I’ve bought new stuff, like gloves, but only after I’ve exhausted all of my used resources. Some things are tough when they’re used, like gloves or a jock strap. You don’t want to go there. When I do go new, I get the cheapest thing I can find, or wait for a sale. Now way back when we first moved here, the kids were going to try ice skating, and I figured I’d learn along with them, so I got skates, as well. I got the cheapest ones they had, and they worked fine, not that I knew any better.

After playing hockey for a bit, however, I began to realize that my foot sure did move around inside my skate. Then my OCD kicked in and I began to envision a world where I actually had a nice piece of hockey equipment. I even got the thumbs up from R. Say no more!

I did the usual amount of exhaustive research and got a new pair. It was kind of exciting, if not a big embarrassing making a big purchase. Now the big question is, will I skate like Mark Messier?

Until the next time, thanks for reading, and thanks to abakedcreation for the pic.