When Jack was a baby, his third word was "ball," just like Lacy actually. He has always had a deep love for playing ball. It doesn't even matter the sport, give him a ball and he will be entertained for a very long time. When we noticed that he seemed to come wired this way, we decided to start him in sports as soon as possible. In Utah he could start as early as three years old, so he's currently in his seventh season.
(In this video Jack is two months away from turning three).
There's also another part to Jack. This was the part that tore him apart, and that as his parent, made me feel so sad for him. Jack has always struggled with anxiety. His love for the game was real, and the passion deep, but his feelings would sometimes handicap him. We would show up to a practice or a game and Jack would randomly burst into tears and say he couldn't play. It was sad to see this talented little three year old, who could actually hit a ball being pitched to him, feeling inadequate about himself and his abilities. Despite his fears, he wanted us to continue to keep him in sports. We did so, patiently hoping that with time and exposure, his passion would overcome his feelings of inadequacy.
As I watched Jack play this past weekend, I hardly recognized him as that same anxious three year old. Today Jack plays with kids who are 1-2 years older than him, because we were able to petition for him to play coach pitch instead of tee-ball (again). He doesn't just keep up, he's killing it out there. I'm so proud of how far this guy has come. It's amazing how much change can take place when you choose to fight your demons, and pursue your dreams.
