Scout has been a bit lackadaisical on the soccer field lately. So on our way to his game today, Micah and I gave him a pep talk. Micah started out with “If you are aggressive at your age, you will dominate on the field.” He didn’t really buy it, and since he wanted to go to a fair with B later that day, Micah told him that every time he touched the soccer ball during the game, he would earn a dollar for the fair. Scout wasn’t enamored and said, “So I will get like two dollars?” Micah said, “If you aren’t aggressive….maybe. But it is up to you. You could walk away from today’s game with 30 or 40 dollars!” Scout seemed to pep up a bit. And then I talked to him about being scared while giving his talk in the recent primary program. I told him that he was nervous. But once he gave it and dominated, it felt great! After a few more minutes of driving, Scout asked, “Well, what if I make a goal?”
Now Micah and I knew this was totally out of the question. He hadn’t been aggressive in weeks. And he played defense which put him pretty far from the goal.
So I answered him with, “Scout, if you make a goal, you get to have all of the money that is in Dad’s wallet.”
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When the game started, you have never seen a boy with more determination. He came out like an animal and touched the ball about 40 times in the first few minutes. It was SO fun to watch. But not nearly as fun as when he scored a GOAL!
As soon as he did, he turned around and did a little personal celebration.
It was SO cute, and I was SO proud!
When the quarter whistle blew, Scout immediately ran over and asked, “Dad….how much do you have in your wallet?”
He kind of hung his head when he answered, “245 bucks.”
Scout couldn’t believe his ears.
Nor could any nearby parents.
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On our way home, Scout said, “Dad, I bet you are so sad you have to give me all your money!”
Micah told him, “You know what….it was worth every penny if you now know you can be great if you just try hard.”
The payout happened later at home when the transaction could happen in a safe place.
I was so proud of my boy.
I was also so proud of my husband who didn’t short change him after he made his goal.
And when I told Scout to take out $20 for the fair and hand over the rest for his savings account, he gladly obliged.
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