More than just Hockey

Elias could spend most of his life outside. We have read the first in the trilogy and watched On the Other Side of the Mountain, whose main character ( a 10 year old boy) is influenced by Henry Thoreaux's works and heads to the mountains to live in nature. Elias loved it; being outside literally all the time, carving wood, observing nature, building and learning from his environment. It totally resonated with him.
Unfortunately his unquencable appetite for fresh air can't be met in the woods or on a mountain all the time. While we each spend some part of the day with him outside, walking, biking, drawing, at the park, he still wants someone to enjoy it with him. He has been so enjoying road hockey with his dad and siblings. Still his ability to be outside longer than anyone else means he is often on his own. There are very few children in our area that are close in age, they are either 2 or 14 and the one child a few years older he doesn't connect with.

After a small melt down after a long tiring day Elias was able to voice he wants to play road hockey more often with lots of people. I just think how awesome it is that he he both able to share so clearly how he is feeling and then take it to the next stage of brain storming how to meet his needs. (while building a pyramid out of sugar cubes is cool- this is why we homeschool- to help them have incredible life skills) So we sent out an email to 5 or 6 other families to see if anyone could join us for a road hockey afternoon. They all came!! and with cider, hot chocolate, treats, extra equipment and prepared to have fun. It was wonderful. The parents played the kids (5 on the one side and about 20 on the other!), little ones went from the park to the chalk to the snacks, mums chatted and we set aside a date for the next gathering.
It was a fabulous afternoon, not only because of the hockey with friends but because we were reminded how great it feels to have the courage to go after something and have it turn out.