(Pic of R last season)

R is a pretty smart kid. He is logical, rational, and fair. He is academically strong. R is not a sports fan. We have put R in some type of sport since he was 4.

We have found out that he does not like Tae Kwon Do, soccer, or baseball. He is unwilling to try football or wrestling. However, Basketball is his game. This is his 3rd season.

R is also an allergy ridden asthmatic!

Its true that he likes basketball. Every year we still have to 'force' him to sign up though. I told him years ago that our family rule says he has to play at least one sport a year.
You would think I told him he had to do extra homework or hug me in public. I thought his eyes would fall out of their sockets from the excessive rolling and that his dramatic sigh may have been an asthma attack.
Good thing he is pretty obedient. Once the season starts he is glad he is on a team and tells me, "Mom, I'm glad you forced me to play this year!"

It is difficult to see him at games and practices sometimes. He pushes and pushes and really hates using his inhaler. There are times I think he goes too far, but he keeps at it. Last year many times he would cry on the way home after practice from chest pain or headaches. I feel bad for him when he feels so nauseous from the asthma and his medication. I worry when it takes days for him to bounce back from a practice or game.

He rarely, if ever, becomes discouraged from being the slowest at running, or that he didn't get as much play time as other boys on the team.
Last night they had a scrimmage. He worked hard, made some great rebounds and is a good defender. He felt very happy with his performance, "I'm proud of myself tonight Mom" he told me. I can tell he is looking forward to games starting next week and so are we.

We sure love that kid. I love seeing him grow, being R's mom is pretty awesome.