re: #508 MandyManners

Bless his heart. He is the smallest and the youngest on the team but the boy has no fear and no qualms and—I’m beginning to think—absolutely no common sense. He will launch himself onto the back of the biggest player and not let go, making them both go down in a whirl of helmets, pads and cleats. If he can’t reach the player’s body, he’ll dive for the feet. He will strip the cleat off his target’s foot. When he has the ball, he will turn around, run backwarkds and shove his closest pursuer smack-dab in the chest, then turn around and keep on running.

At first he scared the older boys ‘cause they didn’t know him and had no idea what he was bringing to the field. He growls at others. He barks. His legs and arms are covered in cleat marks, scrapes and grass stains. He is 71 pounds of absolute energy.

Now Mother I’m going to pass you advice from experience…I think the Kid has a very special mother..You both are very lucky…
Your ability to focus your son’s energy is the key here..He is showing signs of bad sportsmanship on the field..Your teaching of controlling his energy and directing his passion and teaching him good sportsmanship will determine what kind of man he becomes someday…Will he show signs of the rage of his father or the grace of a respected well rounded man?
It is you..His Mother that will guide and influence your beautiful Boy.
We raised 3 boys so that was really fun writing Mandy..
Regards