don't forget about the good stuff
i started this post a while ago, and never had the chance to come back and finish it, but now it seems there is more to add to it, so here we go!
keane just woke up prematurely from his nap. right now i'm listening to him "talking" in his crib. i could be frustrated that he didn't sleep longer since it means i'll cross fewer things off of my list today. but i get to spend more time with our adorable little boy. and that is not really a bad thing at all.
this soccer season has been a good lesson for me in remembering to count the good things even when things are rough. the team that i coach is going through a "rebuilding year". we lost 8 seniors last year - 6 of whom were full-time starters - and a couple other girls decided not to play or switched schools, so we're trying to fill a lot of gaps this year, which has been a bit of a challenge.
on the way home from our first scrimmage(s) - we played in a jamboree to kick off the season - i was talking to peter about how things went, and airing some of my frustrations because there was just so much to work on, and so much we hadn't really had a chance to talk about and go over yet. and there are still plenty of things we haven't really gotten to address because we're still working on the basics. but both that night, and continually now, he reminds me that i coach because i enjoy soccer, and i enjoy coaching. i coach because i want to coach. simply put - he reminded me to enjoy it.
yes, there are plenty of things to work on. and yes, there are frustrations, and times when the place we're starting from doesn't seem to lead to the place we want to get to, but i need to remember to enjoy it anyway. i need to not only remember that it's a process, but also to enjoy the process.
i have the luxury of coaching because i want to coach. there's no use being miserable for the whole season because i'm focusing on where we may not make it. i need to focus on the progress we are making as a team, even if it doesn't seem like enough.
some progress is better than stagnation, no matter how slight the progress.
that is what i'm trying to remember. what i'm trying to grasp. there are good things in the midst of frustrations. there are good things in the midst of transitions and adjustments. it's easy to get lost in the rough stuff, easy to be overwhelmed by the things that aren't what you want them to be.
but the good stuff is still there.
it's true when it comes to raising kids too. not that i've done that much of it yet, but i already know that some moments are sweeter and better than others.
screaming, gassy, upset keane is definitely harder to deal with than the laughing, smiley, excited boy you see above. there are definite transitions and adjustments. there are definite growing pains in both the literal and figurative sense. but no matter what season it is, it will pass. and no matter what's happening there are still blessings in the midst of them. [i write this because i need the reminder, not because i'm good at remembering it.]
when he starts teething soon i'll need to remember that him getting teeth is a necessary and important part of growth. and while teething may be a pain in the arse it'll be rather tough for keane to grow up big and strong without them.
as he grows he'll need me less and less. and while that is what i want, it also makes me sad.
i'm not an optimist by trade so seeing the good stuff in the midst of the crap is rather difficult for me at times. but when it comes to my little boy i am determined to do just that.
every moment is fleeting.
i need to remember these moments when he's learning how to talk - what i mean is he makes noises, and he is starting to include a lot of inflection in his noises. i'm sure he knows what he's saying, but we're still trying to figure it out.
he also continues to be an expressive kid. you can see the wheels turning inside his little mind trying to figure out what's going on around him, or carrying on one of the aforementioned conversations.
today at church keane started "talking" right before the benediction when our pastor was explaining the aaronic benediction he normally gives at the end of the service. he was talking about the phrase - may the Lord make his face to shine/smile upon you - and keane jumped right in, presumably to agree with him.
and we also broke out the little man's high chair yesterday. up until now we had been feeding him his cereal either in his bumbo seat, or just holding him. i thought he may still be too little for his high chair.
but as you can see, i was wrong.
in the midst of the premature wake-ups, the explosive diapers, the spit-ups, the whiny moments, the times when he's sleepy until he gets in his crib, and all the other little not-so-fun mom things, i'm determined to remember the good things.
and the same goes for coaching. in the midst of the losses that we shouldn't have lost, or the games we were in until we gave up, or the lack of understanding and ability to work together, or lack of experience, or what-have-you. i'm determined to remember that coaching isn't just about soccer. it's also about life lessons for the girls, and for me.
keane just woke up prematurely from his nap. right now i'm listening to him "talking" in his crib. i could be frustrated that he didn't sleep longer since it means i'll cross fewer things off of my list today. but i get to spend more time with our adorable little boy. and that is not really a bad thing at all.
 |
| this picture is now from a couple weeks ago, but too adorable not to post! |
on the way home from our first scrimmage(s) - we played in a jamboree to kick off the season - i was talking to peter about how things went, and airing some of my frustrations because there was just so much to work on, and so much we hadn't really had a chance to talk about and go over yet. and there are still plenty of things we haven't really gotten to address because we're still working on the basics. but both that night, and continually now, he reminds me that i coach because i enjoy soccer, and i enjoy coaching. i coach because i want to coach. simply put - he reminded me to enjoy it.
yes, there are plenty of things to work on. and yes, there are frustrations, and times when the place we're starting from doesn't seem to lead to the place we want to get to, but i need to remember to enjoy it anyway. i need to not only remember that it's a process, but also to enjoy the process.
i have the luxury of coaching because i want to coach. there's no use being miserable for the whole season because i'm focusing on where we may not make it. i need to focus on the progress we are making as a team, even if it doesn't seem like enough.
some progress is better than stagnation, no matter how slight the progress.
that is what i'm trying to remember. what i'm trying to grasp. there are good things in the midst of frustrations. there are good things in the midst of transitions and adjustments. it's easy to get lost in the rough stuff, easy to be overwhelmed by the things that aren't what you want them to be.
but the good stuff is still there.
it's true when it comes to raising kids too. not that i've done that much of it yet, but i already know that some moments are sweeter and better than others.
screaming, gassy, upset keane is definitely harder to deal with than the laughing, smiley, excited boy you see above. there are definite transitions and adjustments. there are definite growing pains in both the literal and figurative sense. but no matter what season it is, it will pass. and no matter what's happening there are still blessings in the midst of them. [i write this because i need the reminder, not because i'm good at remembering it.]
when he starts teething soon i'll need to remember that him getting teeth is a necessary and important part of growth. and while teething may be a pain in the arse it'll be rather tough for keane to grow up big and strong without them.
as he grows he'll need me less and less. and while that is what i want, it also makes me sad.
i'm not an optimist by trade so seeing the good stuff in the midst of the crap is rather difficult for me at times. but when it comes to my little boy i am determined to do just that.
every moment is fleeting.
i need to remember these moments when he's learning how to talk - what i mean is he makes noises, and he is starting to include a lot of inflection in his noises. i'm sure he knows what he's saying, but we're still trying to figure it out.
he also continues to be an expressive kid. you can see the wheels turning inside his little mind trying to figure out what's going on around him, or carrying on one of the aforementioned conversations.
today at church keane started "talking" right before the benediction when our pastor was explaining the aaronic benediction he normally gives at the end of the service. he was talking about the phrase - may the Lord make his face to shine/smile upon you - and keane jumped right in, presumably to agree with him.
and we also broke out the little man's high chair yesterday. up until now we had been feeding him his cereal either in his bumbo seat, or just holding him. i thought he may still be too little for his high chair.
but as you can see, i was wrong.
in the midst of the premature wake-ups, the explosive diapers, the spit-ups, the whiny moments, the times when he's sleepy until he gets in his crib, and all the other little not-so-fun mom things, i'm determined to remember the good things.
 |
| moments like this :o) |
and the same goes for coaching. in the midst of the losses that we shouldn't have lost, or the games we were in until we gave up, or the lack of understanding and ability to work together, or lack of experience, or what-have-you. i'm determined to remember that coaching isn't just about soccer. it's also about life lessons for the girls, and for me.
whatever is going on in your world -
don't forget about the good stuff.
don't forget about the good stuff.
xo
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