I dream of a hat trick

Sunday, 25 November 2012

This was one of those days that a parent will remember forever.  You see, Thunderchild's smile went around her ears.

But let me take you back a little for some history.  TC loves to play hockey - has done since she was 5 (she's 15 now).  To play would lift her spirits and see her bouncing around the room.  The position she plays and has for so many years now is that of a defender, and a fearless one at that.  She just goes into a tackle with everything she's got.  But being in that position generally means you don't get to score very much.

She is lucky that this year she got to play indoor hockey.  Indoor hockey is played on a field about a quarter of the size of a normal hockey pitch.  Some of the rules are different and the time per half is 20 minutes.  But playing this version of the sport (at 6 to a side) you get to play different positions, not just back.

So, Sunday comes and they're ready for the game.  TC had previously been taking shots at goal during the penalty corners but never scored.  Today was different.  The team is awarded a penalty corner and TC is called up to the 'D', ready to take the shot.  The ball is sent to her, she drag flicks it and the keeper doesn't even smell it! She scores!  For the first time in years she's managed to score a goal.  Even from where we're sitting (about 20 meters away) I can see that enormous smile.  My heart leaped in my chest.  The wife and I are so proud.

But TC's not done yet...

Second penalty corner and she gets the ball again.  But this time she stops it in the 'D' which means she has to take it outside and back in again - thank goodness for all those many hours (days?) spent doing yardstick drills.  She drags, she scores again.  What a beautiful shot.  It's then that I realize that if she gets another chance she'll be on a hat trick.  What are the chances?  From nothing to everything in the space of 10 minutes?

The 3rd penalty corner comes and she takes up her place in the middle of the group.  I think even the opponents knew she was going to get the ball.  It's passed in, TC gets it, drags....and hat trick!  I'm doing the rain dance.  My chest is so big I cannot see my feet.  I cannot believe it!  My daughter has scored an amazing hat trick.  Her passion for the game has finally paid off.  She'll remember this moment for the rest of her days.

Shame, I must have made a bit of scene because one of the other players asked her if "that" was her dad.

That game on Sunday was such a confidence booster for her.  It was just what she needed.

Well done TC, Mommy and Daddy are so proud of you.

First Week in School in Australia

Well Thunderchild, your first week in school in Australia has come to an end.

You were a little nervous in the beginning, but true to your form, you made friends very quickly.  You also look so good in your new Amaroo School uniform.

Thunderchild and her mom

Of course, after the first day or two you reckoned that the level of maths was too low for you.  Your teacher also said he would recommend you moving to a higher grade.  Let’s hope that happens.

School here starts at 9:15 am, 2 hours later that you are used to.  I still get up at 4:30am, but you only surface about 7:45, very slowly.  Of course, you only go to bed a lot later as well.

Apparently they are starting a hockey club there now – you’ve already signed up (well, dear reader, what did you expect?).  Just a few more players and you’ll have a team.  It’ll be a tough year for you, but I’m sure you’ll guide your team correctly.  Your experience should see you through.

So, TC, your new adventure has started - time for you to make a difference.

"Don't Stand So Close To Me" - Sting

So, I'm tucking in Thunderchild the other night and, as usual, we have a quick chat.  I mention to her how nice it was to see the smile go from ear to ear that morning.  You see, her school (the best in South Africa) offers hockey as a subject - how cool is that!  That day she had Hockey Academy again and was excited as always:  put a hockey stick in that child's hands and she becomes a different person.  Shame, she was ready much earlier than usual and was already waiting outside for her mother to take her to school.


I mentioned all of this to her and she said I mustn't make a big deal of it.  How can one not?  Which parent would not be happy with a bouncing, sunny and happy child?  She had a spring in her step that day.  I then ask a bit about her day and what happened and I get told:  "Don't worry.  You don't need to know".  That hit me.  I'm desperately trying to keep the channels of communication open and she blows me off.  Then she dropped the bombshell (I get a feeling this had been coming for while now):  I must please not rub her back in the morning and sing to her before she wakes up.  I've been doing this for the past 10 years, and NOW she wants to stop.  So, I'm hurting a little at the moment.


Had a chat with her mother this morning about it and she says I must just accept it.  TC might be going through a difficult time (apparently it's worse for girls) but she'll be OK in a few years.  "A FEW YEARS!!!!", my brain screamed.  "But she still loves you", says the wife.  I guess I should not complain.  I am now not to push any issue or topic, I get told, but should wait for it to come from her side.  That means that I had better be available when it arrives.


Oh well, such is the life of a parent of a teenager.


Take care TC.  Mommy and Daddy love you very much.

Thunderchild and the Masked Crusader

“Dad,” she says as I enter the room, “I need to talk to you”.  Immediately I’m on my guard.  WTF?  What happened?  When?  What’s the problem? You know, all those strange thoughts that go through a parent’s mind when their child wants to “talk”.

“OK, tell me.  What’s up?” I say, expecting something bad.

She looks me straight in the face and says sternly,

.

.

.

“I’m Batman!”

Where do these children get these ideas from lately?  It seems as if the older she becomes, the wittier she gets.  She is so quick lately.  She pulls, and catches, her mother with the same trick.  However, “mommy dearest” decides to get her back.

So, a day or so ago they’re on their way to school again.  “TC, I need to talk to you”.  Now, I need to explain something about Thunderchild.  If you say these words to her she immediately becomes worried and withdraws a little.  “But I need you to relax first”, her mother continues.

A few minutes later, “Are you relaxed yet?  Can I talk to you?”.

“Yeesssss???” TC says, a little fearful.

Straight faced mom turns to her and says those immortal words … “I’m Batman!”

Gotcha!

Charity the Stripper

So, Thunderchild has this Halloween bowl into which coins are deposited each time she lets rip with a few choice phrases that might be seen to be inappropriate in polite company.  But, as mentioned, this is a bowl, so it’s easy to take coins out again.

The other day as she’s getting into the car for her mother to take her to school I say to her, “Stop taking money out of the bowl and then putting it back again.  You should give the money to charity.”

“Charity?”, the 14-year old asks, “Is that the stripper you keep emailing be about?”.  And with that her mom totally packs up laughing and they’re off to school, leaving me standing there wondering what just happened.  I think I got nailed, big time!

Thunderchild and the Aura

OK, so there we were, Thunderchild and I on the way to school.  Her mother is off for a few days and it’s my privilege to take her to school.  First we need to decide which radio station to listen to.  I enjoy a talk radio and she a more popular music kind of station – we “settle” on the latter (which actually means I lost the argument).

We’re halfway to school and some competition comes over the waves about “good advice”.  They ask questions about movies that provided some of these.  The contestant this particular morning happens to be some blonde that seems to have just woken up – she giggles.

First question is about something said by Yoda from Star Wars (the sentence construction was all turned around).  Blondie fluffs it totally, and giggles.  A bit of prodding and elimination of the other answers by the DJ and she manages to guess the correct answer, sheer luck.  More giggles.  Daddy is starting to lose it, heart rate goes up.

Next question.  “Which lycra-clad superhero that does not suffer from arachnophobia said….”.  Who cares about the rest of the question.  You should have guessed it by now.  SPIDERMAN!!!

Giggle.  Blah, blah.  “Wrong answer”, says the DJ and thankfully cuts her off before she can giggle again.  I let loose and have a go at that blonde.  TC tries to stay with me, but perhaps I took it too far and she gets a little irritated with me.

A minute or so later we’re at the school (did I say which school she goes to?  Yes, the best one in the country), she turns around to look at me and says:  “Your aura is all messed up.”.  And before I can say anything, she disappears into the school grounds, her words still lingering …

Thunderchild's 14th Birthday

My darling, Thunderchild you’re 14 today.  A very happy birthday from a daddy that loves you very much.

Actually, your birthday started last night when your sister and her boyfriend brought you some presents.  It was such a joy watching you open the presents, especially the one that had the portable hard drive in it – the smile went around the face.  I know how long you’ve wanted one of those to store your movies on.  Now you do.  Of course, Emo needed to annex one of the pieces of paper for herself to lie on – weird kitty that one.  You gave your presents the most unique name I have ever heard:  “Cool Random Junk”, later referred to as “Awesome Random Junk”.

This morning I was the fortunate one to wake you up and sing “Happy Birthday” to you, along with all the other songs – couldn’t start the day off better than that.  I took you to the party shop this morning because, as always, you were thinking of other people.  You went and bought a whole lot of key chains for your friends for their birthdays and what not.  Proud of you TC.  Then, some totally random lady just walked up to you and gave you a hug and asked how old you were.  When she heard it was your birthday she mentioned that it was her 22-year old son’s birthday today as well.  I still don’t know what to make of that incident, but I’m sure we’ll find out some time in the future (connecting the dots…)

Lunch today was so cool with the family:  it was great having everyone there.  You also received some more presents from the rest of us (more CRJ).  I took the most amazing shots this afternoon of you, your mother, sister and the rest.  Just realized now that there were none of me, but that’s OK because my love is in the shots of you.

There was one that so totally captured you:  the way you look, hold your pose etc.  It seems odd now, but the last year or so I’ve been able to capture the essence of TC.  These shots go deeper than the skin:  they reach down to the very atoms of your soul.  Maybe you need to love someone very much to be able to get these.

Anyway, you’re back now from your sojourn with your sister and her boyfriend to Randburg, nogal.  Went to play putt-putt.  Glad you’re back safely, lying there on the couch with one of my Springbok T-shirts on.

Sleep tight, child of the storm.  Daddy loves you very much.