Reed's first soccer season

We were so excited (and nervous) for Reed to start his first soccer season this spring.  Besides being one of the youngest and smallest on his team, we also know that Reed is pretty slow (shh, don't ever tell him that) and sensitive especially when he gets left behind.  So we went apprehensively to his first game.

 So cute in his uniform though.

 After several games of this...

 Can you see him??  I decided I was better off not speaking at all during his games.  It was just too frustrating trying to encourage him to try.  Just try to run after the ball.  I am definitely not one of those parents screaming at my kid to score or at another kid to do something, but I realized that yelling in general (even if it was meant to be encouraging) did NOT work.  He got frustrated even more and I didn't enjoy watching his games.  Once we backed off and let him just do his own thing, he actually had a few good games!

#1 fans: Taryn and Grandma.  Let's be honest though, Taryn only came for the treats she would try to steal from Reed.

Reed's last 2 games were, by far, his best.  Earlier in the season, we even tried to bribe Reed that he would get an M&M every time he kicked the ball.  Surprisingly, that wasn't very motivating to him.  Apparently, 6 M&Ms are just as good as 20 M&Ms.  In a crazy attempt to motivate Reed, we told him that we would buy him a small toy of his choice (ninja turtle toy) if he scored a goal! (knowing full well that would never happen in a million years).  The last game came and, for the first time this season, our team was dominating the other team.  Turns out, when Reed is on a winning team, he tries SO much harder!  He had a few near goals and then it came: REED SCORED A GOAL!!!  For some of you, that may seem like it's not a big deal, but let's just say that both Kevin and I almost cried we were so happy!  When Reed scored, he raised his little arm in the air in victory and ran back down the field in triumph, slapping high-fives to his coach and teammates.  He immediately ran up to us saying, "I get a ninja turtle toy!"  Mind you, we had made this deal weeks ago and had not reminded him of it.  Apparently he had tucked that little nugget of bribery into the back of his mind.  Of course, we had to deliver and the $7 toy was worth every ounce of joy it brought us that moment.  And even happier am I that his season ended on such a high point that he wants to play again! :)