Elena 
Outside my window…
I am thinking…
about Rosie’s race yesterday.
Last year, we traveled down state about two hours for the state middle school championship. Rosie ran well, but she missed being on the podium with a medal by one place. She was heartbroken. But after a good cry and lots of hugs, she stayed to cheer and applaud her friend who got a medal.
I am a firm believer in grief. I think you need to feel it and deal with it, before you can heal from it. I also believe it’s okay to feel disappointment and learn to move on from it. We all face disappointments, but we can’t let those define us; every disappointment is an opportunity to grow.
For Rosie, part of that opportunity was the promise of this year, a chance to medal in this race at the top of the age group, a chance to put all of the hard work to use and win that medal. This was the year that she could put last year behind her, and she was ready.
So you can guess where this is going. I’m not sure what went wrong, but after a strong start, she got passed a few times and then she gave up. She ran her slowest time, finished way out of the medal race, and even got passed by the third girl on her own team for the first time.
When things settled down and I got back home I compared her time from last year and this year and I also looked at the times of the other contestants. If she had run the same time as she did last year, she would have gotten an 8th place medal this year.
I don’t know what to tell you. She was devastated, again. She cried, again. But she pulled it together to cheer for her teammate again. I’m not sure what the Lord has in store for her, but when it comes to graceful losing and disappointments, this kid has certainly had enough practice.
As we were sitting there waiting for the medal ceremony, she leaned over and said, “I’m sorry I disappointed you Mom.” I just told her I loved her, but I also said that if this was the worst thing that ever happened to her in this life, she will have had a very blessed life!
I’ve been seeking out guidance and wisdom on this. We did not talk about the race all week. Her practices were low key and even fun. It was a low-pressure, low-stress week and it yielded a bad result. But I don’t think high pressure and high stress is the way to go either for an 11-year-old.
I think she needs to be in some low key, fun, 5Ks and just run her own race and experience some wins. I’m not really sure what to do.
I am thankful…
for my granddaughter. Right after the race, we traveled back home in time to make it for her third birthday party. Lots of adults, a few kids, an overwhelming amount of presents – I think she had a good day.
I am pondering…
God’s goodness. After the race, after getting home, after the party, we were back home sitting around the table visiting, when Mr. Pete called me from his choir practice (yes, the poor man had choir practice on top of everything else!) One of the ladies at choir congratulated him on Rosie’s win in the local newspaper’s coloring contest! We quickly grabbed the paper off the front porch and saw for ourselves, that her entry had indeed won some tickets to the local Boo at the Zoo contest! That was enough of a mercy to take the sting out of the day for my girl.
I am hearing…
The hum of the computer, the buzz in my ears, although I think I hear one of the two remaining Mastiff puppies from next door protesting a bit.
In the kitchen…
Pork chops
I am wearing…
Gray skort, and black T-shirt
I am going…
- to walk or work out every day with Pfilates. Running practice is officially over, so I will have to figure out walking on my own time. I did one work out to an exercise DVD last week and I know that I will have to do more and more of that as the weather changes.
- Continued prayers this week, focusing on the election..
- to cut my carbs via the Wheat Belly Total Health: The Ultimate Grain-Free Health and Weight-Loss Life Plan
recommendations.
- Start some heavy duty flute practice.
One of my favorite things…
Cheap fun crafts from Pat Catans
From the Learning Rooms…
Maryrose:
Exploring Creation with Botany
Isadora: Senior year!
Switched on School House British Literature
Switched on School house Office applications I and II for Microsoft
Parish Choir St. Sebastians
Saturday Soccer League
A quote to share…
It’s an amazing bastardization of the faith. They must be attracted to the systematic thought and severely backwards gender relations and must be totally unaware of Christian democracy.”
John Halpin of the Center for American Progress, mocks Catholics and evangelicals in an email exchange with Jennifer Palmieri. Via Wiki Links
A picture to share…
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