Riley decided he wanted to play basketball this season so Ryan and I reluctantly signed him up. You see Riley has not done well at sports at all...he can play the sports and is athletic, but he has anger management issues. It is embarrassing and disappointing as a parent to watch. It was during Riley's second season of soccer that we knew Riley needed help because somehow he could not process his emotions. So we quit soccer and went to therapy on Tuesdays and Thursdays in Salt Lake. The therapy did wonders for Ryan and I and Riley. So the next Spring we tried baseball which was okay. He had 2 incidences that I can remember so we tried baseball again the following spring and it was a complete disaster! So we didn't play baseball this past spring.
So now we're trying basketball. So far the practices have gone well, until this past Friday night when they had pictures after practice and Riley had to line up with his team. Well lines are just not good for Riley at all, and we don't know exactly what happened, but his coach brought him to us stating that Riley punched another boy. Why the heck can he not keep his hands to himself!? He had a really rough week at school too and I don't know if its cause he was off track for 5 weeks and had a hard time adjusting but I am sick and tired of the physical violence this kid does and am so frustrated by it! Well his coach is a seminary teacher and a stake high councilman and his son is in Riley's 2nd grade class. So we talked to him and told him Rileys situation and that the coach needs to be the one to discipline him during a game if anything happens, etc. So after pictures, the coach took Riley aside and talked to him for a long time and Riley listened. We asked him what he said and he told us that he needs to say his prayers every night to Heavenly Father and ask for help controlling his anger when he gets mad and that if Riley can do this and not have any issues during a game, then the coach will have a treat for him. Bribery does wonders for Riley and I think he liked the attention his coach gave him. Well today at church we ran into the coach and he asked Riley if he remembered what they talked about and if he has followed through. It really is nice to have a coach that cares for my child and who took a few minutes to try to help. Ryan and I have been very frustrated all week with Riley's behavior and this was an answer to our prayers! It was also a nice reminder that we can't give up and to keep praying for help and that answers will come! It has been amazing to see Riley's progress since we first started having problems 3 1/2 years ago. It isn't cured yet but it's tons better than it once was and I can't give up as a mom even though there are problem days and things happen at school that are out of my control. We also can't forget those simple things that we need to do on a daily basis like read our scriptures as a family and have family and individual prayers. I know that my Father in Heaven loves me and cares about me and my family and our needs physically and emotionally. Being a parent isn't easy and I can't give up!
Riley's first actual basketball game is this Friday and I'm sure a few prayers on his behalf to be a good sport and control his anger would really help!
