Dear Addie,
It’s that time of year again where you get to show off your mad basketball skills for an audience of future WNBA scouts! Ok I’m totally kidding on the scouts, but the skills - you got ‘em girl. That’s right baby, it’s Wake county fall Special Olympics time - it’s basketball baby!
It’s hard to imagine that this is actually the 5th year you have participated in fall Special Olympics here in NC. Can you believe that? That makes you kind of like a veteran at this event - I mean you are creeping closer to the ripe old age of 9 after all!
It’s repetitive events like these where we truly get to see firsthand just how far you’ve come and this year it was very apparent.
I remember when just the bus ride to get here was a huge hurdle. The sights, sounds, smells, bumps - it can be a jolt of an experience for someone with a sensory processing disorder. But now it’s totally second nature to you. Very proud of you Ad!
This year I arrived before you, which was fun for me because I was able to actually watch you walk in and follow all the directions given by your teacher finding your seat on the bleachers that were divided by different elementary schools within our county. There you sat. There was no fussing or anyone holding you still like in years past - you were just there and ready to get started.
The scene was very familiar being in a gym and distinctly loud. Addie volume control isn’t exactly a skill you or many have straight up mastered as of yet and with the acoustics of the gym itself, it can induce some significant auditory distress resulting in a good amount of crying from fellow teammates - and yes, you have definitely been one of them in the past.
While just being in this environment can be challenging for you and your fellow athletes, the company we hold is with those that 100% get this behavior, so over the years I’ve learned to relax and actually enjoy this experience because there ain’t nothing these people haven’t seen already. That right there is advice I wish I could tell all the new parents coming in that are visibly frustrated with their sweet babies melting down or not performing in certain skill activities. This whole process is a learning curve and if I’m being truthful, not just for the kiddos but for the adults (particularly parents) as well.
This year was slightly different because you were recognized as being one of the “big” kids at this event being a 3rd grader and all! You see Addie the events are divided by grades from Pre K-2 and 3-5. On this day, the older kiddos were up first and you were ready!
In groups that consisted of two athletes from our school and two from another, we were headed out to event #1 - Baskets. You were the last to go, but had no problem waiting patiently for your turn by laying flat out on the floor. Hey - you were comfortable and quiet, so no harm, no foul right?!?
Next up #2 - Target Roll. In this skill test you have to roll a basketball on a table aiming for a box taped on the wall. Apparently you were showing off a bit here today, as you did this whole thing with your eyes closed. Seriously funny Addie.
Next up, last but not least and your favorite event #3 - Dribbling! Girl you’ve got skills and you really went for the gold on this one! You didn’t miss the ball ever and kept a very steady rhythm the whole time! Well done baby girl!
Having completed all your events the points were tallied and it was time to find out your placement. Drum roll please...1st place! Blue ribbon baby! As exciting as that was, getting on the podium has always been your biggest challenge here. Side note: I have yet to figure it out why this is an issue, because we all know you love to be up super high and climb on everything! One day you’ll tell me why you don’t like this, but for today we were happy with the progress that you sat on the box - check!
With your first place ribbon and events completed, now came a whole lot of waiting. Downfall I suppose to being one of the “big” kids and going first, now you have to wait on the younger kiddos to finish up. This wasn’t exactly your favorite part and honestly a good bit of crying took place here. We are still working on the taking turns and waiting part of life, so maybe next year will be better - 6th time's a charm, maybe?!
All was right in your world again when you were back on the bus and headed back to school.
Great job baby girl! Super proud of you as always.
Love,
Mom
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