During the summer, the volleyball coach from my daughter's school formed a team to participate in the Pittsburgh Volleyball Elite teams. This is the first time that the school have done it so the girls were a bit nervous but it was a great opportunity for them to experience and participate to. They actually did really well, they lost some games but it was to be expected since those teams have been playing there every summer.
They called their team West Virginia Warriors. They were a bit intimidated going into the first game since they did not know what to expect but after they broke through their nervousness, they were fine. They were the only team from West Virginia. I guess the coach knew someone from the Pittsburgh Volleyball Elite so he asked if we could participate.
It was a great summer practice for them, it became the continuation of their season from the 7th grade. It was also a great transition for their team to their 8th grade's volleyball season which just ended this month.
On their last game, an alumnus from Madonna High School who knows one of our coaches sponsored the team for an after-the-game picnic at Edgeworth Club in Sewickley, PA. It was a beautiful country club with great amenities such as tennis court and swimming pool.
These photos were taken after they swam and had dinner.
It was nice of the doctor who sponsored this event. Everyone had fun including us, parents who attended it.
This year's volleyball season has just ended. They had lost games and also won some but hopefully they all learned skills so they would be able top play in High School. My daughter plan to continue playing if she meets the requirement. She love this sport, it's the only one that she plays.
Nothing
will be more important to you than your children. Unfortunately, a poor state
of mind can impact your ability to care for your son or daughter and provide
him or her with a happy, healthy childhood. It is your job as a parent to
become a role model for your child
because they will look to you when making decisions and learning right from
wrong. To ensure you give your son or daughter the best start in life, read the
below advice on how to truly be there for
your children.
Nurture Every Part of
Yourself
Every
parent has a responsibility to nurture every part of themselves, such as their
mental, physical and emotional health. If you fail to care for your body or
take action to stop a problem in its tracks, your choices will impact your
child. For instance, it is common for some people to turn to drugs to deal with
crippling emotions, but you can turn your life around for the sake of your
child by embarking on a Suboxone treatment program or similar.
Busy
parents tend to push themselves harder when running a hectic home while
juggling a demanding career and caring
for their family. Unfortunately, too many tasks in your schedule can cause a
parent to feel burnt out both physically and mentally. If you want to be filled
with passion and energy when caring for your children, you must care for your
body by enjoying some much-needed rest. It’s time to grab an early night, enjoy
a nap while the children are at school, or find a babysitter to take a break from your hectic household.
Talk to a Doctor and Your
Partner if You’re Struggling
Children
notice a lot more than you think. If you are unhappy, you can trust they will
be unhappy too. For that reason alone, you must talk to someone if you are
struggling with stress, anxiety, or depression. The act of talking alone can
often be therapeutic, and you will be able to discuss your feelings in a non-judgmental,
supportive environment when you can confide in a doctor. As a result, a doctor
could direct you to a therapist or could prescribe anti-depressants, which can
help you to feel healthier and happier, so you’ll be 100% present in your
child’s life.
Additionally,
no child will be happy to live in a divided household. If you are constantly
arguing with your partner, you can trust it will impact your kids’ happiness.
The tension and frustration in your relationship could stem from a lack of
intimacy. Therefore, it might be helpful to attempt to reconnect with your partner by enjoying a date night every once in a while.
Book a babysitter and do something fun together, such as enjoying dinner and a movie,
drinks at a sleek bar, or an exciting day at a theme park. Regular dates could
add a spark back into your relationship so that
you can provide your children with a loving, secure home.
Some children want to start playing sports at a fairly young age. They
either get interested when watching a sporting event on the television or from
tossing a ball around with dad. Playing sports at any age has a huge impact
that can change their trajectory in life. Today we are looking at all the types
of sports available, how you can support them, and the lessons they learn.
The Variety of Options
If your child just wants to expel a lot of energy, you may be wondering what
the best sport is to put your child in. Here are a few examples:
Softball/baseball – these games are similar with a few
slight differences. Softball is slower pitching, bigger ball, and smaller
diamond. This is not a full contact sport but accidents can still happen!
Football – a full-contact sport, even at a young age.
Getting hurt gets more serious as the children age and become stronger and
bigger. While popular among young boys, girls are often welcomed with open
arms.
Soccer – not an intentional full-contact sport. You
don’t tackle anyone like you would in football but since feet are the
primary use, it is very likely one will get hurt while playing.
Bowling – may not seem like a sport but it very much
is. No contact and a great skill builder.
Get Them the Gear They Need
Supporting them isn’t just signing them up and letting them have at it. You
got to make sure they have everything they need. That may be custom
softball socks, helmet, shin guards, or wrist guards. Ask your league coach
for advice on what your child needs and brands they may recommend. Getting a
coach recommendation will help you navigate the crazy world of sporting goods.
Don’t forget the water bottles, extra snacks for practices and games, and ride
arrangements for those days when you can’t take them.
Be There!
Aside from everything, be there and be their personal cheerleader. It
doesn’t matter if it’s the first day of tryouts, the first
football scrimmage, their first game as goalie, or the last bowling match,
being there is the best thing you can do for your child and their self-esteem.
It also allows you to get excited for your child and see that they are safe and
learning great stuff.
They Learn More in Sports Than on the iPad
The lessons that a child learns by playing in a youth league are almost
innumerable. Their social
skills improve because they form bonds with their teammates and feel more
confident stepping out into the world knowing they are a part of something
other than the family unit. They learn how to work together and most
importantly, good sportsmanship. Good sportsmanship can be difficult when
winning becomes the center of everything, but children enjoy supporting and
cheering their teammates on and rely on their understanding that those same
people will support them in return. When they see their family in the stands
cheering them on, they learn that they do matter and are important to others
that they love and adore.
There are also physical health lessons that come into play in youth sports.
They learn more about what their body can and cannot do. They feel strong as
they grow and build muscle. They learn more about healthy nutrition in order to
stay in the best shape for their chosen sport.
Team youth sports is a wonderful activity for all children to engage in, no
matter their skill level. We advise you do check with your child’s doctor to be
sure they are physically ready for their new hobby. We suggest you get a new
calendar so that you can manage all the practices, games, and slumber parties
with new friends.
This summer is full of fun for the kiddos, they got to experience a lot of things. This was a school break where non-stop activities just keep pouring for my kids. Not only that they got to experience fun stuff, they also did some volunteering jobs and be part of some important event that has a big impact in their lives. We also did a lot of "first-time" activities so this is really a jam-packed summer.
One of the boys from my daughter's class loves playing pool tricks. In just six months, he already broke the Guiness World Record for a Jump Pot of a Billiard Ball. My daughter witnessed his successful attempt and was happy for the support that she gave her friend.
For the first time, they experienced the adrenaline rush in White Water Rafting that we did in Hartford Tennessee. It was a lot of fun!
This was also their first experience in Horse Backriding. We did it on our second day in Pigeon Forge.
Our Tenessee trip was a blast. We got to do a lot of things.
Kentucky was also fun. We went to the Newport Aquarium.
Our trip to Moundsville was not really for leisure but we made it fun and educational.
Another year of Amish exploration for us. We can't let a year pass by without visit the Amish Place in Ohio, this time we went on a different one, we went to a bigger one which is the Walnut Creek . Amish place really brings us a relaxing feeling that we don't get driving around here in the city. There is something out there that's so calm and enjoyable.
For a couple of hours, we drove through North Carolina after our white water rafting fun in Hartford Tennessee. It was really nice seeing two states in one day.
We live near Pittsburgh and we have been there so many times but we have never been to their state park in the middle of the city. In fact we didn't know about Point State Park until this year so it was nice seeing it for the first time.
North Star Tiki is between Pittsburgh and the city where we live but we have never been there before. My daughter's class held their end-of-the-year party there so we all got to go and see the place. We had a lot of fun there as well.
We have been to so many places in Ohio but not in Cincinnati so we were glad that the place we stayed at in Kentucky was near Cincinnati.
We got to see their International Friendship Park and get to enjoy the thriving arts scene all around the city and we got to bond with the Dias Family.
We volunteered to help at the church's fund raising event where donated items were sold at the annual rummage sale that was held at the school gymnasium.
This was the first year where the volleyball coach from my kids school formed a team and participated to the summer program of the Pittsburgh Elite Volleyball. Their last fun activity was going to a fair with their friends.
They have been back to school for a week now so I feel like the summer break went flew by so quickly. Now they are back to their regular routine for school, violin lessons, and juijitsu. My daughter's volleyball season have started already so they will be very busy with school related functions again.
