It’s Game Time!

My oldest stepson found a sport he loves – basketball.  I can’t even begin to appropriately explain how much time he spends playing and practicing this sport.  If the sun is out and the weather cooperates, he is pounding the court somewhere.

As I mentioned in my last blog, he entered high school this year.  Just as everything else in high school is a bigger deal, so is the basketball team.  There was no “sure, anyone who wants to play is on the team” this year, but instead-tryouts.  Not just one day of tryouts either-but three.  They were scheduled to begin on Saturday and end on Tuesday.

The week leading up to tryouts was of course filled with anticipation. A popular conversation over dinner and numerous strategies discussed between Josh and his father on making the team.  Then – it happened.  That Tuesday as I was driving home from work my husband called to tell me Josh had turned his ankle.  Uh-oh.

Now, this very serious event in his life was even MORE serious.  Tryouts were going to begin on Saturday.  We had to get a game plan to get this kid functional by then or it was very likely we would have to send him to a psychologist to recover!

Since my husband and I both work in health care, we are lucky to have friends and coworkers who are familiar with various injuries and illnesses-so we used our resources.  I have a particular friend who played ball in college and is now a doctor who shared some tips for us to get him tryout ready-but they weren’t going to be fun.

We were armed and ready.  Josh had to stay off his foot for a day or two and then tape and brace it for practice.  Ibuprofen was also on the list to help with inflammation.  And then, there was the ice bucket.  My friend suggested “if he’s serious, he needs to put his foot in a bucket of ice for about 20 minutes a couple times a day.”  Did I mention Josh isn’t a big fan of pain?

You can see by the photo how much he did NOT enjoy this part of the regimen.  However, I am happy to report that after days of rest/tape/brace/ice and mental coaching for him to play through it-he made the team!  The whole family was ecstatic and very proud of his accomplishment.  Now-it’s game time.

How do you help your kids accomplish big goals and overcome challenges?

Makala Pollard is a Senior Marketing Specialist for Texas Health Resources and Stepmom to two boys and after a six-year journey of infertility is expecting a daughter in March.