There is nothing like the first goal scored by your baby. Nothing.
Let me get something out of the way first: I have no expectations when it comes to my boys and hockey. Ok, that’s not true, I expect them to play when they are on the ice. And I expect them to listen to and respect the coaches and referees.
In no way do I anticipate any of them making it big in the NHL or in any way making a career out of this. I want them to find a sport they love. Right now we’re trying out hockey. If they decide that isn’t for them, we’ll move on to something else.
We believe sports are supposed to be fun. If you sign up and commit to something, you see it to the end, but if you decide that it’s not for you, we won’t sign up for it next year. Simple as that.
But here’s the thing, my heart has been lost time and again watching Boy#1 play this sport that he’s come to love. Last year was our first year in novice hockey and he quickly found a groove in the defense position. And he’s good at it. He understands it. As a defense player, you don’t often see him near the net trying to get a goal.
We are ok with that. This isn’t a search for glory. This is a game.
Let me set the scene: it’s game two of a three game tournament. The first game our team played, we were annihilated. That happened a lot early on in the season but eventually the kids learned. And that’s not my point.
Ok, game two. Second period. I believe the score was 1-0 for the other team. It might have been higher. Again, that happened a lot. For the life of me I can’t remember how it happened but all of a sudden, Boy #1 is there, beside the net and the puck finds it’s way onto his stick and then into the net. I do not know who lost their mind first.
Fine. I did.
I watched as my kid skated over to his coaches and they celebrated just as hard as he did. There were cheers and high fives and “Way to go! Kid! You did it”.
And that’s when I started crying.
Y’all. Hang with me here, since this may be news to some but I’m a big old mushy lump on the inside.
As they announced his goal, my boy skated over to where we were in the stands, raised his arms and celebrated with us. He sought us out, and the joy on that child’s face?
That, my friends, is loving a sport.
I teared up again when the Husband showed me that he had caught the announcement on his phone. He has a recording of Boy#1’s very first goal being announced.
And that is why my butt is at a cold arena for a ridiculous amount of hours, freezing, tired, watching these boys skates. Every now and then I get blindsided by something that makes my cold heart grow three sizes.
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