Those first moments of greatness...

What I'm talking about here is that first time when you see something that rationally speaks to the heart of a champion. And it's not about thinking your kid is spectacular at everything (you know those cheesy bumper stickers...my kid ate all his spinach today-rah-rah-rah!) No! It's about that very moment when the kid does something beyond the pale. You see it and your heart stops. It's rare. It's beautiful.

Those are the moments that drive us.

I'll share a few of mine and then for our kick off week for smashmouthmom I'm asking for your stories which will be highlighted on the blog. Please share!

Colt's pee wee football in Huntingdon, Pa. 2004. Up to that moment Pat (fourth grade) was struggling to learn the game. I'd forced him to play for one year in an attempt to do something with his maniacal energy. He didn't get the plays. He was painfully shy. He wanted to quit. It didn't seem to be working.

Then in a scrimmage against Southern Huntingdon a funny thing happened. Other team gets the ball. They're running-everyone on our team falls away but for one kid. Who is that kid? My son. MY SON? What? He's at the forty-the thirty-the twenty-the ten. And still Pat is following. He seems to be gaining by the inches until finally at the 1 yard line Pat gets the tackle. He got the tackle-what? Yes! I'll never forget that day because he came off the field with a new light in his eyes. Coach John commended him out for having the spirit of never give up. Times, they were a-changin'!

Colts. 2005. Pat is playing both sides of the field. He's starting to get the game but still an average player. I'm happy that he's agreed to play. Then halfway through the year he starts getting it-really getting it. In one game two interceptions. All of a sudden he's getting the ball and he's dragging three and four kids down the field. He's pushing it so hard I get a little scared. The other coaches start to single him out "get the kid with the dreds!" How much can a body take? In one deciding game against our rivals he was given the ball so many times and dragged so many kids that he literally could not breathe. I thought he was injured. The coach offered to keep him out-he said no. He wanted to win no matter what. Another moment of gritt.

Colts, 2006 superbowl. We are losing so badly. Our team has given up completely. Pat has been singled out on the field under double and triple coverage. They are shutting him down. His team sags on the field. And still he keeps pushing. The only yards gained in the game come from Pat. I can't stand to watch. One kid cannot win a game-yet he keeps trying to do so. At the end-after the loss. Pat's team mates are crying. I search him out and he is the only kid dry eyed-in fact his eyes are full of anger. We get in the car. We don't talk. Next day when he's finally able to talk about it he describes his rage and frustration with his team because so many of them gave up. He described how he kept trying to get his team going-to get them to believe. The moment on that Sunday was low for him but for me I saw yet again that he had the heart of a champion.

Ok. Let me hear your stories of greatness. It doesn't matter what sport-please share but please stick to sports. Thanks!