The monkey is a happy glowwing kid again. Four days of sports achievements has her feeling excited and chipper again.
–First, Hayley played her first round of golf (even if it was a modified best ball one) on Thursday. She had so much fun and was dying to play even more when I had to drag her off the course. I told her there was no pressure here, just have fun and she did.
–Thursday night the swim team finished the weather delayed Thursday and won again! She swam well but had to swim up in some main events because of some absences from her age group (there are ten girls in 9-10, four kids in a main events/eight in a relay - and she is the youngest kid in 9-10). When they win at home, they get to jump in the pool to celebrate and boy did they have some fun doing that, lol. They are now 3-0 on the season (4-0 if you include the mock warmup meet). Hayley loves winning.
–Friday she went to the U.S. Women’s Open with my folks and had a lot of fun. I don’t think she would have enjoyed it as much if she hadn’t just been at golf camp. She and my folks got interviewed by a reporter for a story in the Wilmington Star-News!
Chapel Hill resident Gordon Perry, a PGA teaching pro (”now retired,” he added with a knowing nod), his wife, JoAnne, and granddaughter Hayley Hillison had just settled into a shady spot just off the 15th tee.
“We’ve been coming year after year,” Gordon said. “Coming in at No. 1 is more impressive.”
The Perrys said they had found their spot for the day, which was just fine with 9-year-old Hayley, who took her first golf lesson last week.
“I hit it about 100 yards,” Hayley said. “I think it’s pretty cool to watch them. It’s my first time.”
And in the end, even at the far reaches of the course, it’s about the golf. Annika Sorenstam’s putt for par drew the largest ovation.
“I’m coming to watch Michelle Wie,” Hayley said matter-of-factly. “And I came to watch the girl in the pink. But I can’t remember her name right now.” (It’s Paula Creamer.)
–Then Saturday she had her tryout with the other soccer program I found that had a challenge tryout. If you remember, I was very conflicted about letting her tryout but she wanted to do it.
Totally different result even if it was hotter than heck. We didn’t even leave the tryout before the coach offered her a slot on their U10 Challenge team (challenge is the next level up from recreation ball, they train twice a week for 90 minutes and play each weekend around the area as well as some travel tournaments). They use more of an academy format for challenge which turns out seems to be a pretty good format as I’m learning about it. Turns out she knows two girls on the team, so she is just over the moon thrilled. I feel like I did the right thing. I know she’ll have to deal with disappointments in life and she did handle the first misstep but she is nine and she’s been through a lot. If I can find her opportunities for HER to excel, then I’m going to do it every time.
