Summer Schedules

Summer Camps, etc. are a new thing for me as our oldest has just hit the age where is in now eligible for most day camps. And now it is the. . . how many activities are appropriate. . . . what will this really cost, etc. debate.

But with Skye I find the debate even more, what will really build him up, give him something to be passionate about and really work for. Athletics has never come easily for Skye, he's just not one of those natural born athletes. I can't say that I'm surprised as I am definitely more athletically challenged, and I hate competition (which is the point of most sports isn't it?). Skye is also afraid of failure. So often I've heard him say when faced with something new, "But what if I do something wrong?" I too have this fear and I don't want it to control him as it often has me. It breaks my heart to see him struggle in ways that I have.

Yesterday I sat down with Skye to tell stories. One of his favorite pastimes is to take turns making up stories and telling it to each other. Unfortunately, we don't get time just the two of us often enough. But yesterday was one of those rare moments with no interruptions from siblings, just us. When it was my turn to tell a story I told one about a young Prince that wanted to learn to fight off the dragons attacking his land, but he was scared to try. Of course the young prince persevered and was victorious in the end. Skye really enjoyed the story, he knew it was about him, and his eyes just sparkled at the end of the story when the villagers cheered for their prince. I try to find ways to build his confidence, and to know that everyone makes mistakes while learning, but that is how we get better, but so often I don't know how to build him up and wonder if I'm missing some vital step that he needs. Any ideas?

Anyway I digress, So David and I are talking summer schedules as sign ups for the ones offered by the high school are this weekend (and are the cheapest around). We've been searching for something that might inspire Skye. We'd like an individual type sport where you aren't worried about letting a team down, etc. but it's just you. We also want something that his little brother doesn't do, as Isaac is our athlete, and already Skye compares himself to Isaac in sports and ends up walking away and not even wanting to try when he thinks his little brother can do better. So we saw on the schedule that Tennis is being offered. Hmmm . . . . We talked about it and since it is just a 2 week commitment, a little over an hour a day, we decided to try it. Of course I had to show Skye what Tennis is on the computer when he got home, but he's excited to try something new, and something where his hand doesn't have to hit the ball, just the racket in the hand. lol. We'll of course have him try it all out here at home so he has the basic idea before lessons start.

Of course both boys will be in swimming lessons this summer, and I think we are going to do some soccer instruction for both of them so that they have more confidence when it comes time for team playing in the fall, but that at least is just once a week lessons. So the summer is filling up! David's folks are going to have their job cut out for them the week that they are watching the kids for us as that week they'll have to run the kids to all 3 activities--the only week in the whole summer where they will have all 3 at once, with swimming and tennis everyday. What fun!