Wrestling Season is Upon Us Once More

Let the chaos ensue! Youth wrestling tournaments have got to be the most chaotic sporting events ever. Take 300 + or – kids and there parents, siblings, and other fans, pack them all into a high school gym and have 6 matches going at once. RIDICULOUS! So ridiculous in fact that I love it! I love everything about it. I handle the chaos quite well. I just see through it pretty well. Having Phoenix there without a moment to set him down gets hard. It’s also hard to keep Milo busy during these tournaments. It’s just so important to Skylar that I go. It’s so important to ME that I go! there isn’t much that I would miss it for. This is Skylar’s passion. If I wasn’t sitting on the edge of the mat screaming er… cheering his name, then who would??? Yeah yeah, aside from the obvious. TJ gets to be his coach. But I… I get to be his FAN!

Here he is putting a half nelson on a girl. There are definitely more girls in youth wrestling than you would think. At this age, boys and girls strength are relatively similar. It’s when they get to high school that things start to change and the boys get stronger.

I’m a little more at ease this year. Last year I felt a little conflict about feeling like I was cheering my kid on in a fight. It wasn’t the wrestling that bothered me. It was more of an inner struggle with my own values. Really, I’ve completely come to terms with the fact that I’m a sucker for a good physical altercation. TJ and I watch UFC fights together. When TJ and I first got together. some million years ago, when the other girls were pulling there boyfriends away, or worrying about the fighting I was right there cheering (and by cheering I mean egging) TJ on.

This year, I’ve bene able to see how much Skylar has grown. Not physically. He’s hardly grown at all. His singlet and shoes still fit from last year. His whole attitude is different. He’s taking his wrestling very seriously. He exercises and eats healthy and puts effort into practicing at home. Last year he spent a lot of time goofing around, and didn’t care to practice much at home. Now he’s spending time teaching Milo wrestling moves, and he’s doing it with patience and a lot of care. He’s very loving and watching him share his passion with Milo is really cool. They take each very seriously. Milo listens to Skylar’s words and watches his body movements and tries to imitate him.

Our youth program generally doesn’t start until 3rd grade. Most start in Kindergarten. Milo could wrestle next year, since TJ is the coach. they do have one 5 year old that comes to practice. It’s really hard to watch the little ones wrestle. There are definitely a few that get it. They get that they aren’t really in a fight. That they are learning and executing moves. But so many of the little ones end up in tears and hurt. I just hate watching them. I often wonder who wants them to wrestle. This is where our unschooling will come in. (not that it ever leaves!) Allowing Milo to make a decision on his own. Listening to his cues and his desires. Luckily I have time to prepare. For now, Milo starts his first summer of youth soccer! It’s exciting watching him grow. I think right now, he wants to try a lot of things Skylar does. I do need to go to the bowling alley to see how young kids can bowl on a team. If there is one sport that I would say is Milo’s favorite, it’s bowling.