Parenting is full of incidents that make you laugh, make you cry, and sometimes make you laugh and cry at the same time. Since parenting a child on the spectrum is filled with countless tearful moments – I live for the laughter-filled moments.
As I’ve mentioned in a recent post, Ethan is has just begun soccer; his first practice was earlier this week. From experience, I’ve learned how important it can be to “prepare” Ethan for new situations. So, for a couple of weeks I’ve been priming him with many details about the game of soccer, about special rules, about his new coach, his teammates names, gear for the game…really anything and everything pertinent that I felt would help him feel more comfortable when we arrived for our first team practice. After all of my thoughtful preparations, when we drove up to the field, I couldn’t help but feel that Ethan (who was decked out in his new cleats, shin guards and soccer socks), and I (I’m going to be the Assistant Coach), were ready!
Our first practice day fell on one of the windiest days imaginable. The soccer balls were actually blowing across the fields at times because the wind was so strong. As such, we all spent a lot of time squinting and chasing balls. That, I expected. For that, I was prepared.
What I didn’t expect, was the effect the wind would have on Ethan and the life lesson we would have to learn right there – right then – with no “priming” on the soccer field!
About a quarter of the way through practice, while we were running a shooting drill with the boys, I look over to find Ethan bending over at the waist with a foot-long trail of snot streaming through the air.