Tough Love

Yup that is what we practice at times around here, tough love.  The boys had wrestling practice last night.  It is their first year.  Rylee and Danny are at the same height and weight.  So they make great wrestling partners.  And being brothers it just adds to that!  lol  At practice last night they paired them up with other boys though.  Boys that happened to be second year wrestlers and were taller/heavier that both Rylee and Danny.  Brandon and I watching from the bleachers knew this was going to be interesting.  Rylee maybe could hold his own, but Danny was going to get creamed.  On the mats were nine circles, so they have nine sets of wrestler going at one time, one minute wrestling.  The coach blows the whistle and they move to the next circle.  Possibly it's called the Round Robin?  Not sure on that though.  Anyways, they continue on wrestling the same person through each circle.  Danny made it until the fourth circle maybe and then Rylee was helping him off the mat.  Poor kiddo was crying and holding his arm and leg. 
Now here is where the tough love comes in.  What do his loving parents say to him?  What would you say to your son?  Brandon and I look at him... ask what is wrong, tell him to stop crying.  No tears at wrestling.  He says that the bigger boy hurt him.  We say, well toughen up, you'll be alright.  Sometimes you get hurt at wrestling.  You just have to suck it up and get back out there.  One of the coaches walks over and apologizes, saying that he didn't realize that the boys had been put with second year/bigger boys and he was sorry.  Was Danny okay?  Again we said yes, he would be fine.  We let Danny sit for a minute and then sent him back out on the mat to wrestle again.  Reminding him that no tears on the mat, and wrestling is tough.  You will get hurt, it's part of the game.

So... we practice tough love in this house... and at the gym!