Heartbreak

Being a mom to two girls I anticipated comforting them on heartbreak.  I really thought it would be a (gulp) boy issue.  I never thought it would be sports related.  Ella has played soccer since she was two.  She has worked her way up from rec onto a travel team.  For three years she has played in the top pool, focusing a lot on goalie training.  She attends practice three times per week and has gone to goalie training (optional) two times per week for two years.  Soccer here is pretty much year round.  This is a lot of soccer.  Tryouts for next season took place this past week.  Ella has a rough first day, struggling to breathe in the heat.  We got her inhaler for the next day, hoping it would help.  "I brought it, mom" she told me after the second day. Ella found out today, she dropped down to a lower team - all of her friends moving on.  For someone who has poured her little heart and soul into the sport, I saw heartbreak in her for the first time.  As a parent, it is a teaching moment, I know.  "We don't always get what we want." "Look for the positives." But let's be realistic, she is 10 and she is hurt.  She is hurt by a coach she trusted.  Of course, we can't protect our kids from these things, but we can try to soften the blow.  I know kids need to be prepared for disappointments and things that happen in the "real world" but what do you do? What do you say? We told her we are proud of her.  We don't care if she is on the World Cup team or if she is on the 100th team.  We want her to be happy.  So, she went to bed with a tiny smile and tear stains on her cheeks.  I will hold onto that tiny smile...

xo~M