I can't remember the last time I was this genuinely happy about something. Something so small, yet with very big significance. Landon has always been my very shy child. He is ultra talented and brainy, and yet lacks the confidence to do anything with it. At times his shyness has made me want to scream, beat him, or just brought me to tears with frustration, because even if you aren't brimming with confidence, I think the least we owe ourselves as human beings is to like who we are and feel like we are good at something.
He very seldom wants to participate in any "events". Spelling bee, talent show, sports, etc, and very seldom when he has participated has it had a happy ending in his eyes. He has never been much into sports, which is fine. I don't care if my son is an athlete or not. However, he loves to swim. He is on the Gators swim team, and while he does go to practice 2-3 times a week, he has absolutely refused to participate in the meets.
So tonight I come home and he says "guess what we did in swimming?" I am preparing myself for a bad story. I can hear it coming. He said when he got there they were having a swim meet. Had I read the newsletter I would have known that. But I figure I don't have to really be on the ball with it because he won't participate anyway, so I'm hit and miss with reading the newsletters. But I'm REALLY Kicking myself because I can just hear him cussing me as he walks into swimming. I was ready for him to tell me some way I had just embarrassed him by sending him to practice when there was a meet.
I guess the coach asked him if he had signed up for an event, he said "no," but the coach walked over and signed him up and had him do two events anyway. So...trying to be optimistic I smile and say, "so... how'd you do?????" He said, "I came in first in one event and second in the other." I was floored...I wanted to cry I was so happy. It's not a gold medal, it's not the Olympics, but it may as well be. It's HUGE for him, and I couldn't be happier. See, sometimes it pays to be a slacker and not fully aware of what's going on. I'm just so sorry I missed it. I was sitting at the church watching Kaitlyn play volleyball. But I'm definately going to bed tonight feeling like something is right with the world. When I asked him if he would do some more meets, he said "yes."
10 comments:
Way to go Landon!! It is truly amazing the feeling we get when we see our kids succeed in something..
Yeah, that makes me smile. Tell him congrats from me. I've always told him he could be the next Michael Phelps. Give him a hug from me.
I think there are all different kinds of "gold medals" in life and Landon just got one! Way to go Landon. I think swimming is a much harder thing to accomplish than some other sports! That is way cool!
Awesome job Landon!
That's awesome!! Way to go Landon!!
That is so cool! Landon is such a sweet kid and I saw that shyness in him in scouts. But he is so smart!! He always impressed me with how much he remembered week to week. Great job!!
Good for him! Kids just have to do things in their own time...can you tell I'm still potty training Ellie.
I felt like you were describing Brayden exactly. I so "get it" when you said that it makes you want to cry. They are such wonderful, loving boys - but they can't see it in themselves. I didn't realize that Landon had that same personality. I have been trying to get Brayden to want to do the Gators swim team, but he doesn't think he is a good enough swimmer. I am sososo happy for Landon that he did it at all, even happier that he did so well. I can almost feel your joy for him. Way to go Landon!
Good job Landon! I have tried to get Dawson to play a sport this year now that he is old enough and he really doesn't want to do it. I hope I can find something he will enjoy doing.
Awesome job Landon
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