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Elizabeth is, and always has been, far and away, our most energetic child. I'm convinced that in-utero she was Baby C, because she was the one that would most often flip, to the point that our ultrasound technician once measured four babies. It's no surprise then that Elizabeth was the first child to roll-over, crawl, walk, run, climb, ride a bike - break a bone - and gallop on a horse.
Seventh grade is the first year that our children could join a sports team at school, and last year, Elizabeth tried out for - and made - the cross-country team. This is a big deal, because their 7th grade class has around 1,300 students, so there truly are "spaces" on the team. In order for her to make the team, she had to run two-miles in under 18 minutes. When she tried out, she ran two-miles in under 16 minutes. This was remarkable to me because although she's always on the move - she's never really trained to run. Here in Texas, there were running camps all summer for kids that were interested in making the team, and we were strongly encouraged to send our interested athletes. But we didn't send her to any of those camps because: 1. We were traveling a great deal this summer, and 2. Liz has a tendency to faint in hot and muggy weather, and there are few places hotter or muggier than Houston in the summer.
Even though she made the team, got the uniform and matching duffel bag, that didn't automatically qualify her to race in competitive meets. Because, again, due to the size of the team - athletes have to qualify to compete for the three spaces that are available for her school in each event. Last semester, she ran every single day with her team, and her speed continued to improve, such that in no time flat, she was running two-miles in under 14 minutes, garnering her the nickname, "Lightening Lizzy."
But for whatever reason, her run time would decrease when it was time to qualify, and she couldn't make the cut to be in the top three runners for competitive meets. Even though she didn't race in the "competitive meet", she would still race in the "open meet" and like clockwork, her speed would increase and she'd usually lead the herd. More than once, she was the first place girl in a field of more than 100, which made Charlie and I think we needed to seek the advice of a sports psychologist to determine what was happening during the qualifiers that had her holding back?
In the spring, the kids run track. And as much as Elizabeth loved running cross-country in the fall, it turns out she loves track and field even more. In the past six weeks, she has learned to pole vault, high jump, long jump, hurdle, and sprint. Running has become a highlight of her life, and over the past couple of months, she has adorned her room in pictures of Usain Bolt, Jackie Joyner Kersee, and Florence Griffith Joyner, including this quote, which I love:
Last week, we learned that Elizabeth had - for the first time ever - qualified to run in the competitive track and field meet that was scheduled to happen yesterday at her school. There are no words to describe the happiness, joy, and sheer excitement that has been flooding through her veins ever since. While we are really happy about this too, we've also been worried about her school work. Elizabeth - when she applies herself, does really great at school. But when she is distracted and dreaming about things like, being in the Olympics one day, school work takes a back seat and is something she tends to avoid like a steaming cow paddy in the middle of the long jump pit.
Earlier this week, the kids had a Texas history test. Yesterday, after Elizabeth had left for school, I received an alert that the grades were in and she had failed it. Not just a little, but a lot. As a result, her overall class average had tanked below a 70. Our pact has been that the only way she can run on the team, is if all of her grades are above a 70. We've granted her some leniency here and there, because sometimes we're not paying close attention - and sometimes we're soft. Elizabeth was diagnosed years ago with dyslexia - and I know some of her subjects are more challenging for her. But I also know that she can soar when she applies herself; and lately - she hasn't been. As a result, her grades have been slipping to the point that she's now got ALL of her mama's attention. Which is really saying a lot because when you're outnumbered like Charlie and I - try as we might, kids tend to blend in, and sometimes slip under the radar.
Yesterday, I had Carolyn at a doctor's appointment and when I dropped her off at school, I told her that since she'd be seeing her sister, she needed to tell her that she had to come home directly from school and forego the meet. In hindsight, I'm kicking myself, because I should have gone in to the school and told her myself. And, I also should have talked to the coach, directly. Because when Carolyn didn't alert Elizabeth until 15 minutes before school dismissed, and Elizabeth alerted her coach - her coach told her she was really frustrated and needs "responsible" kids on the team. Elizabeth had to hand in her uniform, and came home completely broken hearted. Last night, she cried herself to sleep because she is so afraid that the coach will never give her a chance to run competitively again, and she's very concerned what her team will think.
I've since been communicating with the coach to let her know that it wasn't Elizabeth's decision not to run - it was my decision, based on her grades. And while ultimately, school work is her responsibility and she needs to keep it as a top priority, it is my responsibility to ensure she does and I have to follow through with repercussions. My heart broke in two as I told my weeping daughter last night that she needs to have this same feeling of devastation when she doesn't perform as well as she could have on a test. And also, what her teacher thinks about her commitment, responsibility and performance is just as important as what her coach thinks. Charlie has been reassuring me we made the right decision, but it just feels so mean.
Interestingly enough, the Battle of the Alamo, which actually began 182 years ago today, was a turning point in the Texas Revolution. This was the battle in which Mexican troops, led under Santa Anna, killed all of the Texian defenders. The cruelty displayed by Santa Anna during this battle, inspired many more Texians to rise up and fight … and ultimately, led to the Battle of San Jacinto on April 21st in which Texas won it's independence from Mexico. I'm hopeful that this situation with Elizabeth will also be a turning point, because I know she's smart as a whip, has got the heart of a little warrior, and will do what ever she needs to do to run.
But wow, parenting can be so hard at times.
I'd suggest even harder than Texas history.
