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Liam is in
third grade. He is a study in contrasts. Talking to adults is difficult for
him. He looks down, heat rushes to his cheeks, answers are mumbled. His first
years in school were difficult. He didn’t speak much, if at all, in class. I
clearly remember celebrating with his teacher in second grade when she had to
tell he and a friend to be quiet in class.
With his
friends, he is loud. He loves to play, run, imagine. He tends to be a follower,
I’m guessing leading is too much in the spotlight. But his growth over the
years has been apparent to us all.
This fall
Liam mentioned that he wanted to join the local YMCA’s basketball league like
he had the previous year. Sure, we thought. It was a bit of a step-up for him
from the second grade team, but he loves shooting baskets at home, so why not.
Liam loved the seven weeks, but we were often left watching with amused
expressions. He would guard on offense instead of defense. If given the ball, he
looked to see how quickly he could pass it to someone else like a game of hot
potato. However, he had fun, which was our goal.
A few weeks
ago he mentioned in passing that the spring league was starting up at the Y and
could he join. I’ll admit, my first thought was not positive. Luke’s travel
league had just finished and I was looking at free weekends for the first time
since July. But, we of course agreed.
Both teams – fall and spring – have been made up of other kids from our town. They are great kids that Liam is friends with. I think this helps him a lot on the court. Last week’s game was a marked improvement from the fall. I smiled watching, thinking how much these kids had grown. Liam knew the difference between defense and offense. While still looking a bit nervous when he would get the ball, he would wait longer before passing, even looking at the basket a few times.
Yesterday
we headed over and Liam was already pumped. He had hung out with his cousin the
night before and had a sleepover to go to after the game. I reminded him before
the game that my goal each and every time is to have fun. He grinned and took
off with his friends.
I don’t
know what happened to their team, but they were on fire. The kids worked
together – shouting out who to pass it to, finding the open man, and at one
point they even completed a pretty amazing play. Liam shot about five baskets
with one that actually went in. He was beaming, but his friends were cheering
just as loudly. Later, Liam told me that the kids had decided everyone on the
team should make at least one basket during their game and they were working together
to make sure that happened. How cool!
He had a
bit of a swagger to his walk as we left the gym. His chatter was nonstop. And
as I watched him talk to his coach, a few parents, and then high five with his
friends, I had to wonder where my shy little boy had gone. Then, he ran over to
me, smiled, hugged me and I saw him there – and so much more.
