Avery {Sensitive Soccer Surplus}

Avery is one of the most sensitive kids I have ever met.  Though he is not super sensitive to his own needs.  Instead, he deeply feels the pain and sadness of his fellow humans.  He is also quite extroverted, and simply must talk to you about his feelings.  He will not re-watch Pete's Dragon because he still finds it too sad (though it has a wonderfully happy ending, he simply can not stomach the stretch of the story when the dragon and Pete are separated and sad).  He firmly believes that certain professional soccer players will never leave his beloved Manchester City because they love their fellow players too much.  He apologizes to us when we have to leave school to attend his 4th grade award ceremonies, because he thinks it will be more work for us.

So this weekend, his classic soccer team finally achieved something that was new to them.  They won two matches and got to play for a tournament championship.  Some context:  It has been a long, and trying season for this particular HFC classic team.  They are not actually old enough to play Classic level soccer, but the club chose this group of  kids to play a year up - and it has been a learning experience.  They have lost almost every match, sometimes by several goals.  Though our kids are super skilled, they have simply been overwhelmed by the physical size and speed of our opponents.  Some kids didn't make it to the end of the season, others improved greatly, and still others learned a lot about themselves.  For Avery, who cried after every match they lost, he has had to learn how to face adversity.

For most of the year, he has been the smallest person on the team.  He came into this season as an incredible passer, who reads the game like a pro.  He maintains that field vision, and still looks for the assist over a goal every time.  But the speed and physicality of the Classic level game intimidated him, and he has had to learn how to change his game to succeed.  He has answered that call, and has learned how to defend bigger players, and how to take a foul.

And it has honestly been great for him, and for me.  Learning to sit back and give space as he learns how to be brave, and fight through hard things, and disappointments - has been a big lesson for me.  And I am so proud of him for sticking with it, and keeping his chin up.  We are all better for it.  Here's to next season, and learning new things!