Recently, I wrote about concerns that my son J may be turning into a bully. Without provocation, he roughhoused with other children. Due to this behavior, some moms’ glares could melt the winter’s frozen solid ice and snow. After careful consideration and some skepticism, I believe we found a solution.
With the high energy my son displays, I need to keep him moving. Early on, I invested in a small exercise trampoline, ideal for releasing energy during inclement weather. We tried soccer where my sociable son couldn’t keep his hands to himself, tumbling and chatting with teammates and opponents alike, ignoring the ball.
Tucked into one of my kids’ backpacks was a flyer advertising a local junior wrestling league. I briefly glanced at it, absently placing it on my husband B’s side of the kitchen table. After he read it, he emphatically stated that he would sign J up.
My head jerked up in alarm, and I blurted out, “What?!?” Wrestling seemed so barbaric and…weird! Why would my sweet little boy want to fight anyone? Then flashbacks of times I thought he had bullied other children hit me. Could I have been wrong about his intentions? Was he like a wild puppy that needed to roll around with other puppies? His kindergarten teacher told us he is rambunctious but never malicious.
“The Romans and Greeks wrestled!” B proclaimed, convincing me to let J wrestle. I remember the high school wrestlers swaggered around school, cool, confident, almost cocky. Even B’s older brother assisted the wrestling coaches after injuring his knee in football. Did wrestling fit into my son’s athletic future? [Read more...]
