My son is 10, almost 11 now.
He's my youngest, my baby, my only boy.
This is his first season playing tackle football.
It wasn't an easy decision to let him play but he's been asking for the past few years and I kept saying "Absolutely not.
My son is not going to get hurt playing football!" My husband and son teamed up against me on this one.
My thoughts were: Why can't he just play flag football? Why does he have to play tackle? He tried flag football when he was about 7 but he did not have a good experience (due to the coach) so when I suggested flag football it was a definite "not interested.
" My son has always been on the small size so naturally I was worried about him getting hurt by the bigger kids.
What would they do to my little man?! My husband researched some of the leagues in our area and found a league where the kids are placed on teams according to their age and weight.
They reasoned with me that this was the best league and the "safest" because he would not be put on a team with kids that are a lot bigger than him.
I'm not sure about their logic but they were trying hard.
After their hard work in trying to sway me, over time I relented and said I guess we could try it.
To them, that was a full-fledged "let's go!" and the next thing I knew my son was all signed up! Guess my husband wasn't going to miss out on this opportunity nor was my son.
My son was placed on a team of boys ages 9-12 and weights ranging from 75-120 lbs.
My son being 10 and weighing about 82 lbs, he is still on the small side for this team.
I thought for sure my son would not enjoy tackle football.
He's never been really physical, he doesn't hit other kids, he doesn't like conflict.
As the season began, he has come home bruised and battered.
In the beginning, I'm sure he must have cried - I know I was ready to cry just seeing the bruises on his arms.
My poor baby.
Why would anyone endure that? How can that be fun? There was no way he was going to want to continue this barbaric play but hey, I let him have a chance and he tried it and that's the important thing now, isn't it? A mother can only hope.
As we come up to the last game of the season this week he's had plenty of time to assess his experience and you know what? He absolutely loves this game.
He loves playing.
He loves tackling.
He's not afraid to go head to head with boys that are much bigger than him.
Believe me when I say, when they play a game and the opposing team is big, they are much bigger! Am I worried he's going to get hurt? You bet! Should I stop him from playing an organized sport because of my fears? Absolutely not! There are many things in life our kids will do that will scare the heck out of us but that doesn't mean we should shelter them.
That's part of growing, learning and experiencing life.
What I've learned through this experience is to let go a little bit even if it is hard (after all, he is my baby) and give him the opportunity to grow and develop.
This experience will give him confidence in himself.
It will give him pride in his team and his part on the team.
In time I hope he will recognize the power he holds on his own and that he can accomplish anything he sets his mind to.
He's on his way to becoming a wonderful young man and if I step out of his way just a bit, he will surprise not only me, but hopefully himself because he'll have the confidence to take on a challenge when he see's one.
So I guess it looks like we'll be spending plenty of time at football fields for years to come.