Herding cats

Well, I think God is giving me my Godsmack for all that sinning I've done in my life. My "special" team of soccer kids is forcing me to make a trip to the hairdresser before my actual six weeks. (i.e. my gray hairs are rapidly multiplying)

I have my "special" boy, whom I'm call Stuart. My boy, Stuart, also has a nickname. He is known as the "Dick Grabber." This child can't run down the pitch without holding himself in his hands. Ok, I take that back. He has adopted the "bird" run in which he runs and flaps his arms and yells "I'm a bird." God love him, I genuinely wonder if the child if the child is autistic or has Aspergers Syndrome. With another child, I would talk to the parents and address my concerns. What jades this discussion with his parents? His mom is a pediatrician. Surely, she recognizes this child's symptoms. Perhaps, she just doesn't want to tell me. I just don't know. But, bless his heart, I can't get frustrated with him. I just don't know how to reach him or help him.

But, in addition to Stuart, I have my challenges with the brother and sister team who refuse to listen. The brother is an oversized bully and his sister is just plain stubborn as a mule. She and I had a battle of wills tonight and I have to say that she won. I was out of options. Would you believe we battled over her taking a drink of water? She refused to go get a drink from the water fountain. Flat out refused. I cajoled. I ordered. I tried to be playful and get her to go get a drink. Nothing was going to work with this child. Her brother is pretty similar, but he seems to have more of a desire to excel and will eventually come around to instructions that are given as orders. These children definitely need some discipline, but without any way to back up my words, I'm defeated already. These kids will be the death of me.

Then, I have my poor sweetheart with vision problems. He has one eye that faces a different direction. I would call it a lazy eye, but I don't think that is accurate. He has always worn sunglasses. His mom said they help him see, only I think she does it to obscure the appearance. He took off his sunglasses today and my bully took it upon himself to call attention to sweetheart's eyes. *sigh* So, we had a discussion about how God makes us all different (this is the Baptist Church soccer league) and how we all have something special about us. So, I picked out something cute about each child. I did get a giggle when we did our scripture memory and for John 3:16, one child said Jesus was God's "only forgotten son." It is just funny to hear these little kids reciting scripture.

We ran lots and lots tonight because these kids need to up their endurance. Four minutes seems like a short amount of time to exercise, but when you're competing with nine other kids to get a ball and there are no game stoppages for indoor soccer ... it seems like forever to the kids. Running is easy. The passing drills and shooting drills - well, God help me, it is like herding cats - only harder.