Humbling experience

This week our big boy Tristan has been at goalie camp, on the ice for 3 hours per day putting himself in a net so that a former NHL player who is now a coach and a 15 year kid can shoot pucks at him. Needless to say that the poor guy is exhausted, and he had a major breakdown this afternoon when after being on the ice for 1 hour for a 3-on-3 with younger kids he found out that he had to go and play again with the older kids (he had practiced in the morning for 1 1/2 hours all ready).

Needless to say it didn't happen for Tristan... the poor kid was drenched in sweat, exhausted and he said he never wants to be a goalie again. Poor kid, he has been dreaming about this camp for over a year and it ends this way for him. Just broke my heart to hear this kid cry so hard cause he didn't want to go back on the ice to face the big kids. We didn't force, we got him undressed and told him that this was a trial week for him to see if he really did like it and if he didn't that was fine he wouldn't have to do it again if he didn't want too. You have to understand that this kid faces those pucks without fear and with all the effort a 6 year old can put into protecting his goal - his dream was to play as a goalie in the NHL, and now after being coached by a former NHL goalie, his dreams are put into perspective I think.

I think I am more heart broken than he is right now. Not because he isn't going to be a goalie, but because his dream has been shattered - being a goalie is very, very hard work and he tasted the real thing this week. I should have protected him a bit more from reality I guess, let the dream persist for another year or so. Hindsight is always 20/20 isn't it?

I should mention that Greg would want me to say that Tristan is just fine, and he was happy as punch to welcome Zach home tonight. Everything is fine for the boy, its Maman that is suffering.. funny how a mother's heart works.