Lessons of Life

I wonder at times when I need to push Dominic and when I need to lay off. Most of the time I lay off and let Dominic be Dominic but that can be really hard at times.


Dominic has swimming lessons on Tuesday night. Why do we have them in swimming lessons, well at its core to learn how to be a strong swimmer, nothing more, nothing less. I watch one dad always standing and wanting his son to swim harder, faster. He is the dad I don't want to be. I watch his son and his son tries so hard to please his dad. Dad knows he should sit down but his inner want to have his son succeed is overtaking his emotions.

Me, well I usually just do a sudoku and let Dominic be Dominic.....that is until last night. It was the last class so 90% of the kids didn't show up. They combined all the classes and did relay races. Group of 4 kids swim and do silly games to see who goes the fastest. All right here we go, I stood up, waiting for Dominic to put some energy into his swimming......that never came, he putzed. His team was in the lead and he was putzing, no sense of urgency what so ever. I must have stood up and sat down 10 times. I picked up the paper next to me and read a sentence then stood up again. It was killing me, I was thinking "come on Dominic, show some urgency", but it didn't come.

I didn't say anything but as of this morning I am still frustrated with the whole thing. Now my dilemma, as a dad do I sit him down and talk about having others depend on him and at the very least try as hard as you can, win or lose. Regardless of the outcome he can at least walk away proud that he gave it his all. My worry is that when the fear of losing overtakes him I don't want him to give up but rather fail while giving it his all. I have a feeling that he will succeed more than fail. Or am I battling his nature where he doesn't want to compete with others but rather himself.

I have done nothing so far while debating the pro's and con's.....I'll let you know my decision and what happens.

At 3:51 PM,  Anonymous said...

Talk to Dominic. It sounds like something was bothering him. Get him to talk to you. Listen!

If his beliefs are right, his actions will be right.

Love, Dad

 

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