It's been about three weeks since Mila started "hockey" and I definitely need to use those quotes there because there's nothing hockey about a bunch of three and four-year olds chasing a ball up and down a gym floor. The sticks, maybe? If they weren't holding sticks, I'm not sure that anybody could figure out what sport they're playing. I'm not even sure that it's a sport. It's about as organized as a group of three and four-year olds thrown into a gym and handed some sticks and balls.
They run a lot. There's that.
Which is to say, Mila is loving it. She struggled the first week because she was thrown for a loop with how the class started (long story ... and not one worth writing), but since then has had MUCH! ENTHUSIASM! FOR! HOCKEY! It's good. She needs more ways to wear herself out while practicing listening.
And while it is definitely all good, I have some observations:
1. Wow is Mila tiny. I know she's "Tiny Human," but I'm not sure why she thinks she needs to take the title so seriously. She's the smallest of 25 kids, which is pretty much her life story so far. Other kids her age, or even younger, tower over her. SO TINY.
2. Miss Mila thinks it's cute that y'all run all over the place chasing that ball. She runs in the correct general direction about four steps, stops, and then waits for all y'all fools to hit the ball back towards her. She knows you will. She just has to stand still and wait for it. By the way, she sometimes tells the other kids to go get the ball and give it to her. LEADERSHIP SKILLS. BOOM.
3. It sure is special how engaged some parents are. It's a community program for three and four-year olds that happens to cost like $5 per week, so my expectations are right around "run back and forth and sort of chase something." Other people's expectations are somewhere around, "My kid is the next Sidney Crosby and I expect you to figure that out." I mean, they go out there! On the floor! And correct their kids' stance or shot or whatever! And they yell, "Shoot the puck!" even though there is no puck! It's a ball. And Iceburgh is nowhere to be seen, so I don't think it's a Penguins game. I thought we only shout that at Penguins games? No? My point is there are some parents who are ALL IN and I adore it. It makes me feel much more sane while giving something hilarious to watch. TOTAL WIN.
All of that is to say, hockey is a win. I'm really super glad Mila wanted to try it for a while. It's giving me a fun little show each week.
