View Full Version : I guess this is as good a place as any...my son's race today


~Tara~
10-07-2006, 07:38 PM
Levi raced today. It's been a little while for him, though he has still been to the track for practice. He was moto #12, 9 yr old rookies. He gets out of the gate nicely. There's only one boy racing him. Levi is racing probably his best ever. His competitor is a ways behind him. Not as far behind as Levi generally is, but, Levi has some ground on him. He comes out of turn 3, into the last rhythm section, competitor is entering turn 3. Then.....



Levi wipes out.



My heart sank. He was doing so well. By far his best race to date. He was finally paired with someone more his equal, as fae as experience goes. His goal for this race was to get 1st place, that's what he told me. He was "right there", he could taste it. Then just that fast, it vanished. Levi was down and his competitor went on to win.



The other boy was thrilled. It was his first win. Levi gets up and is walked off the track. They get some ice for his hand. They stay at the end of the track for a while.



He comes up to where the kids and I are sitting, still 'pampering' his hand. A few folks sitting near us come to check on him and tell him "good job". The boy he was racing came to see how he was doing too. Everyone wondered if he was going to finish out the race. He had 2 more races to run. We talked to him, encouraged him to 'shake it off' and get back in there. He was going to do it. Still holding that hand a bit, but he went for it.



So, round #2 comes. He didn't give it anything. He was far behind, not even trying. Understandable. That was his first big crash. And it was a rather good crash. But I was very disappointed.



He comes up to our seats after that lap. We tell him we could tell he wasn't trying and encouraged him to do better his last lap. By not trying on that one, he lost his chance at that first place trophy he was shooting for.



Third round comes. He gets a better start than the last one, but he's still not running like he was the first. So he gets 2nd/last place in each round.



Of course, he still got a trophy for 2nd place.



It just stinks that he was sooooo close. I hurt for him. First I was nearly in tears, of joy, so excited for him to be doing so well. So close to his goal of first place. Aah, he was doing great!! I was so proud of him. He really was doing better than ever. Then *bam* just like that, gone.



Honestly, I think I'm having a harder time dealing with it than he. He was thrilled to get his second place trophy. It was still a step up. He's had 4th, 3rd and now 2nd. You could look at it and say he's at least improving. Consistently going up in ranks. But, he was still last in each ;)



I know I must sound horrible, negative. I just needed to write this to get these feelings out. I'm disappointed for him. I am so proud of him for doing as well as he did. I am proud of him for racing hard. I am proud of him for taking the crash as he did. I'm proud of him for getting back up and carrying on. I just so wish he could have gotten that #1 trophy this time.



But I know that's not what it's all about. He's having fun. He's enjoying himself. He's striving to improve. He's just having fun!! And that's the greatest thing ever!



What an awesome kid! What an awesome day! What an awesome Lord for giving us the day He did :)

love2bmom
10-07-2006, 08:03 PM
We want the world for our kids, and that includes 1st place. Just be encouraging & remember there will be another race..>!!

stephwhiz
10-07-2006, 10:09 PM
Tara we hurt for our children and when they hurt I think it sometimes hurts us more :( . Just be proud for the little boy who did win because it was his first win plus second place is something to be proud of too :D . Stephanie :D

luvmy4sons
10-08-2006, 08:07 AM
Awww! Poor little guy! I am sure you are proud that he didn't quit altogether. It is so painful as our children learn lessons. :? And when they are older and the decisions are bigger, the lessons have more significant consequences; and you don't have any control whatsoever...then your faith is tested and built up. Thankfully we serve an awesome God who loves our children far more than we ever could and has planned their life for His glory! :D

~Tara~
10-08-2006, 09:30 AM
Thanks for understanding my feelings and not coming down on me for thinking horribly. :)

I am SO VERY proud of both boys. They did fantastically! And yes, the other boy deserves 1st place too. And he was just so great about everything. Checking on Levi, making sure he was going to be ok after the crash. Then telling him good job for going on. Good race bud! High fives and all that. It was great :) I hope they continue to meet up out there and really become friends.

Just those mommy hormones got the best of me. I needed to vent it so I could go on. Thank you ladies for listening :)

One of these days I'll get some racing pics. You just can't get close enough pics from where we sit. We have some from the Nationals but you just see 'a kid with a white shirt and helmet' in a bit of a blur. But on these local races, I should be able to get closer to the track to snap a more recognizable picture....if I could get the baby to leave me alone long enough to do so hehe