Monday September 15, 2008

Worst Part of the Day-

So I volunteered to coach Scarlet's 4-5 year-old soccer team and tonight was the first practice.  

It didn't start until 5:15pm, but she was in cleats and ready for action at 4pm.  We were both excited and really ready for the fun.  Mom and daughter--coach and player!   Woo-hoo.   Day 1. We were were the first ones at the field so I could set-up cones and balls, etc.  As soon as the kids started coming Scarlet started to get into a bit of her show-off routine but I didn't think anything of it.  Mid-way through she started blatantly not listening to me at all and near the end she was literally having a kicking and screaming tantrum.  I did my best to ignore and gloss over the atypical and completely unexpected behavior, but it was over the top.   I have NEVER seen my child (who is almost 5!) act like this "naughty" before.  It made me want to cry; it was so embarrassing.  Instead I had to go on and keep the practice going with a "I'm a fun and well-adjusted Mom/coach" smile plastered on my face as the parents thought to themselves "thank god my child isn't a freak show like that girl!"

Best Part of the Day-

As I was driving (red cheeked and alarmed) from the soccer field I checked my phone and saw that Cuz K called.  I called her back immediately as she has worked with preschoolers for the last 20 years.  I relayed the story about Scarlet's actions (I was mortified!) and she didn't even seem phased by it.  She explained "Scarlet has to share you with the other kids and that's challenging..." She went on to say that she had that happen when she taught her child and all of her teacher buds have experienced the same thing with their 4 year-old-ish kids.  Holy schnickies--I just went from signing my child up for psychotherapy to thinking it's par for the course--in 5 minutes time.  I just didn't have the this is what to expect talk with Scarl prior to this practice.  When I hung up with Cuz K, I asked Scarlet point blank, "Was it different having to share me with the others at soccer?"  She sheepishly smiled and said "Yeah, it was hard to see you saying 'good job' to all of the kids."  Who the hell knew?  So instead of laying into her or putting her on any Thinking Step I simply said "Next week you will know that I have to be the coach to you and all the kids on the team.  You have to share me."  "I know.  I was really acting like a baby" she said. 

Thank you, Early Childhood Guru!  I cannot tell you how much better I feel!    (I am still ever so slightly leery for next week...the post-trauma lingers a bit.)