My youngest son had his first official basketball game last night. He’s in third grade and he’s gone to a million of his older brother’s games and has been his big brothers’ greatest fan.
Luke was apprehensive about this team – he’s new so he doesn’t feel like part of the group yet, and he didn’t like the name of the team (believe me, it’s a very corny one). But when the players got out there, they really manned up and played as they should – like a team.
I was so proud of him.
Our whole family was there, grandparents included, so Luke had his very own cheering section, and he probably got annoyed with all of our enthusiasm. He played his heart out. While the teams were very well-matched, the other team stayed two-to-four points ahead throughout most of the game until some sort of magic happened. Then our team, no matter how corny of a name we have, banded together and edged ahead.
These little third graders wanted this game so badly, and I know it’s not about the win, believe me, I know. And I didn’t want them to come away with a win. What I was hoping for was for my Luke to make a basket. Throughout the whole game, when the opportunity presented itself, Luke would shoot, and … miss.
But then, at one of the last shots he had, he made a basket. It was one of those moments in life I had so wished I had captured on film. That smile on his face. The joy he must have felt in his heart when six of the people who love him most in the world jumped to their feet, cheered and clapped because a 9-year-old made a stinkin’ basket that wouldn’t have made any difference in the outcome of the game … that was the moment in the game for me.
I know that’s what he had hoped to accomplish during that game – to at least make one basket. And he did it. And I saw him do it. And that is the absolute joy of motherhood for me.
What’s been a joy of motherhood moment for you?
Oh, I would be bawling! (no pun intended…) -there are so many new joys each day. When they first say I love you, when they do an unselfish act, when they read their first sentence, get their first good grade at school, so many good things it just gets better & better!
Steph
Steph,
In keeping with your story, I think some of my most joyous motherhood moments have been watching my kids perform. My oldest dancing in a school concert…she’s so beautiful when she dances. Watching her with the band color guard in high school at the Fiesta Bowl national band championship two years ago. Watching my middle daughter get a hit that drove in the two runs her softball team needed to win a game, or looking at her photography and drawing, and knowing that she has real talent.
I think the best moments are when they perform without us, whether it be academically, sports, arts, learning a new skill, whatever…and they are proud of themselves and you are so proud of them that it just makes your heart practically burst.