Real Hockey

About a month ago we took Braden to a hockey evaluation.  I was under the impression that he’d be told he needed to take more Learn to Play lessons and then next year try out for the team.  So when the evaluation is all over Coach Nick says that he doesn’t feel any of the kids aren’t ready for this team.  I was a bit shocked, feeling that Braden was quite a bit behind the others out there.  He certainly is the same size as the 6 year olds but he’s not nearly as fast, agile, or able to move the puck.  But he loves the team, calls it “real hockey” and gets off the ice every practice telling me, he’s the best at hockey, he scored, etc.  So I guess I need to relax and stop being a neurotic parent.  He’s having fun, he loves it and it shouldn’t matter whether he’s at the same level as the other kids.  He’s had 4 practices and already he’s learned more than he ever did in the lessons.  So I’m very proud of him for being so confident and brave, an hour on the ice and non-stop drills is hard work.  He drinks a Gatorade in the locker room after practice and doesn’t look like my 5 year old boy, he looks like such a real athlete full of sweat and pride; its so cute and I’ve learned a valuable lesson myself!