Through The Eyes of A Mom!

Joel and I watching Iowa Hawkeyes wrestle in 2015

  They say that boys dominate wrestling. Which is so true, but girls are coming in their own. Really women have been involved. Just in the forms of "Wrestling Moms." Wrestling Mom's play such a key role. Some may call us "Crazy," but really we are the most toughest, strongest, and the most caring Moms you can ever meet. As our wrestlers are on them mat so is our hearts.

Joel in 2012

  My little man started at the age of 4 in wrestling. He needed an outlet, and something to use is stored up enegy that little boys have in the winter time. There really isn't much for 4 year old to do with the winter time besides play in the snow, or stay inside the house. Even though my son loved playing in the snow. It just wasn't enough. He needed something productive, and something that gave him a since of accomplishment. So, one day someone suggested that I put him in Pee Wee wrestling. I will tell the truth the first thought through my mind was, "no way in the heck will I put him in a sport of that kind." I had heard so many stories over the years about the sport of wrestling (the dieting, the sicknesses, and injuries).  I thought how would I put my young son in a sport that I really didn't approve of, but eventually I gave in, and let him try. It was the best choice that I have ever made.

Joel at his first practice in 2012

 I still remember my son's first practice 4 seasons ago. My heart I swear stop beating as I watched him practice. My son went from this innocent little one, to a brave little boy. Watching him that first practice was so enjoyable as he had fun with other boys his age, and learning from some neat guys that were willing to pass their knowledge on to these tiny boys. I had the greatest enjoyment after that first practice hearing my son say, "Mommy can I do it again, I had so much fun," as he smiled those pearly whites, as sweat run down his face. So, I knew right then I knew it was time to put down my defenses, and let my son decide if he wanted to stick with it or not for himself. 

Joel at his first tournment in 2012 in Martensdale

  I still remember when he took to the mat the first time at his first tournament. My heart raced I didn't know if it was adreniline, or if it was fear for my son. I did have tears in my eyes as I worried what would happen to my son. As I watched him wrestle the first time I couldn't believe what was going on right before my eyes. Before his first match he was smiles and giggles. He gets on the mat his smile turns into a look of determination. I was probably one of the loudest Mom's, but I didn't care, because my baby was wrestling. As I watch him it was as if I felt every move with him. He lost every match that day, but he was happy he didn't give up. 

Joel pinning a Kid at Creston 2016

 Since that first tournament match of his wrestling career years ago, I have changed in how I look at wrestling, but not how I look at my son as he wrestles (because that has always remained). I also don't get crazy loud as I once did. I am loud enough my son hears me as he wrestles. It is cute because he says that even with all the cheering, and things he can still hear my voice. I asked how he hears my voice over all the madness. He says, "Mommy, only I know your loving voice. I tune out the other noice and concentrate on yours, unless if my coach is there." Even a voice from a Mom makes a wrestler know that he is so important, and supportive. A Mom is the wrestler's #1 one cheerleader. To a "Wrestling Mom" the sport of wrestling means more to us than just "Singlet Washing," "Bracket Checking,"  "Picture Taking," and things. The sport of wrestling to a "Wrestling Mom" means the loves of our lives is doing something they love, and our hearts are with them.

Joel Nov. 2012 with that Joel look at Waukee 1st year of wrestling

  Over the years I have watched my son grow in the sport of wrestling. He is no longer that tiny little boy, but a young man that is finding his groove in the sport. Everyone once in a while over the years I still get that little glimpse of his young silliness as he does a big boy sport. I see him give me a smile, or even a thumbs up just to let me know everything is going to be fine. He still takes a moment out for his Mom before each match, and after each match I am ready for him to be in my arms for a huge hug.
  I watched the times he struggles on the mat with strong opponets. I see in his face as he grimices in pain, and figuring how he will get out of a hold. I keep telling him he can do it, and don't give up. There is a part of me that wants to take his place, but I know he has to do it on his own. I am there on the side of the mat waiting for open arms to hold him, and tell him how proud I am of him for just giving it his best, and not giving up. 

Joel getting his hand raised at Creston 2016 after a pin.

 I watch intently all the time really. When my son wrestles a match and he is doing well in I still continue to encourage him to give it a little more. I watch as he is able to land a move, or even pin an opponet. When he gets his hand raised at the completion of a match. I watch as a smile comes on the face of my son. Seeing his face light up of feeling of accomplishent of a good job is such a great feeling for myself. I watch as he shakes the opponets hand, tell him a good job as well or even keep your chin up if they cry, and then shakes the opponets coach or parents hand. Then he runs to my arms that are waiting for him. I tell him how proud I am of him. He doesn't gloat about winning against an opponet. Instead he will tell me he learned something from them, or I needed that challenge to make me work harder. 
  So, I have wiped away tears when my son has cried in pain, I've wiped sweat from his face after a hard workout preparing, I've bandage owies, I have been my son's practice dummy when he wants to practice at home or before a tournament, I still tie his shoe laces, and I have iced him down after wrestling and dealing with growing pains. To me it is all worth it, because I'm a "Wrestling Mom." I love wrestling, because my son loves wrestling.

Creston 2nd Place 2016

  I've watch wrestling change my boy from a quiet, shy boy that had a hard time accepting loss; to a boy that makes friends from different schools, cheers just as loud as his Momma, and that accepts being defeated. My son has gained self-esteem, learning that a loss doesn't make you a loser it makes you learner to know what to do the next time, and he knows that a win does make you a winner; but a striver to continue learning as well. He is becoming a young man before my eyes. I have wrestling to thank for that. I am proud to say I am glad that someone suggested I put my son in wrestling. 
  My son knows he is not the most experience wrestler, but he gives his all. He improves every time he is on the mat rather it be practice or tournament. I see him falling more and more with the sport as he learns more moves, and get better on the ones he already knows. 
  So, the next you here the phrase "Wrestling Mom," remember we are more than just crazy ladies screaming for their children. We are just like any other Moms that are proud of their children doing a sport. Yes, we are loud; yes, we run between mats; yes, we take hundreds of pictures; we have to wash a singlet ALL the time, but we will always do it no matter what, because it means the world to our children.

Bedford 2nd Place 2016

  I know someday things will changes as my son ages from Pee Wee wrestling to wrestling in junior high, high school, and maybe even college. All I have to say is as long as my son choses to wrestle I am going to be there for him. I will be his #1 cheerleader, and he will be my #1 wrestler. He may get to the point he wont come give me a hug after a match, but he will know that I am there. I can see it now he will still look up in the stands where ever I am, and give me that Joel look he has given me since that first tournament match. The look of he will be just fine, and that he loves me.

Saying Bye to Another Year

 It seems like 2015 just started, but it was 364 days ago. It went by so fast. It was hear and gone right before our eyes.
  Joel and I were really blessed with a wonderful year together. Life brought us so much joy and excitement this year. There were changes that were to the good, and not so good (but we made them turn into good, because we knew it was God's plan). Maybe that is why we were so blessed was because we allowed God to be the center of our home, and in our lives. We did so much more than we expected this year. It was awesome journey adventurous year.

  January began as usual with family and friends bringing in the new year. Usually with in a day or two Joel and I are at mat side for a wrestling tournament. Last year Joel wrestled for WCV instead of Winterset. He loved it there, and misses it there. Last year he wrestled at the Winterset home tournament. He shocked us as he tied for first, but since it came down to points he took 2nd. I was so proud of him.

 February came celebrations. Joel helped me welcome my 35th birthday (I am not shy about my age). It was so much fun with him. Also with February we were busy with Cub Scouts. We had the Blue and Gold banquet. Also we took a trip with the Tiger Cubs to Waukee Bowling Alley. The boys had so much fun. The boys took on the adults. We won one and the boys won one. It was so good to watch Joel interact with other boys as the had so much fun scheming how to bowl a certain way to beat the adults. They even were stealing our balls.

  March brought the fun as spring arrived for us. It also brought the fun of the annual Cub Scout Pinewood Derby. Joel came up with the design and constructed it with the help of his Uncles. His Mommy helped a little as well. Joel's car did not do so well. It basically got last in every heat he was in. At first he was sad, but he still came out a winner. He took home two awards "Most Decals", and "Most Scout Spirit." In the end he said it was a blast.

Joel at Table Rock Lake

 Also in March brought our annual Spring break trip to Arkansas. We love spending time with our family. Grandpa, Grandma, and my Dad enjoyed spending time with us for a week. During that week we had fun, but we worked on many of Joel's Cub Scout things. Joel learned how to sew on various types of buttons with his Grandma. He took many pictures over the week of various things like the mountains, lakes, and important places.
On the way home we took a different route with my Dad. We decided to go through Branson, MO (where we stayed the night). We did free/ very cheap things, but had so much fun. The last time Joel and I went he was 2 almost 3. Joel enjoyed seeing Table Rock Lake, riding the Trolley Car around Branson Landing. We also stopped at Springfield, MO and enjoyed the Bass Pro Shop.

  In April we had showers of blessings. We celebrated our Risen Savior on Easter at church with our church family. Joel looked so handsome in his Easter outfit as usually. I really don't care how much money I have I will always get my son a nice Easter suit. In April Joel also had his 1st Grade Spring Concert. He did so well. It was a joy to see me son sing and

talk. April also meant spring sport which would mean no other than soccer. Joel did very well. He still was getting use to U8 rules being different than U6. He got to be on the same team as a few of his friends. Joel got the biggest joy in his life when he got to meet Senator Joni Ernst during a event which he attended for Cub Scouts. I think he was on cloud nine to meet such an important person to the state that he lives in.

 May was the biggest "Catch" (get it catch? LOL) of the year for us. We were so busy. Joel and I decided this year we would do more relaxing over the spring and summer as we spent time together. One of the things he asked was to go fishing together. So, I caved and got a fishing licenses (sometimes a Mom has to get dirty). Joel caught some, and so did I. Joel was the proudest when he caught the trout. Okay I was really proud myself. May also brought the award ceremony for the year of Cub Scouts. Joel officially earned his Tiger badge, and received his many belt loops and acheivements he had done. It was such a joy to watch Joel blossom through scouting. It really helped him learn and grow to be such a wonderful young man for the future. I'm glad he continued. Joel also took his first lesson in shooting a bow from his Uncle. Joel caught on fast, and really loves shooting a bow. He wants to someday go hunting with his own bow.

  June brought warmer days. Which in return meant POOL TIME. Joel started it off at a pool party in Salina, Kansas visiting our family there. Joel had such a blast playing with his cousins, taking about the Vetnam war with his Great-Uncle, and even going to see Dwight D. Eisenhower museum with his family. It was so great to spend time celebrating our Uncle's 70th birthday. June also meant Swim Lessons when we got back to Iowa. Joel did very well again this year. He is set for Level 3 this summer.
Oh, we can not forget Joel's trip to his very first Cub Scout camp at Camp Akalea. Thank you to his Uncle for stepping in and taking him for the day and over night. Those two had so much fun, but were exhausted when they got home. Joel's favorite he says all the time was shooting the bow. Even proving people wrong that he could shoot an adult size bow, and hit the target (he hit the bullseye in fact). When he puts his mind to something he is going to acheive it, or do his best atleast.

 July was started with celebrating on the 4th with family and friends. Joel had so much fun playing with kids his age. I dont think we made it 5 minutes on the way home before he conked out. Seeing my son have so much fun celebrating life as an American is awesome. He is proud to be an American. He is sad though that men and women have died so he could live in a country that right now he has the freedom to be a Christian. He prays for the men and women and their families that are still fighting for our freedom.

   August was here before we knew it. It meant our last hurrahs before Joel started school again. This year August meant so much to us. We got to celebrate our Grandpa's 80th birthday in Arkansas with him, and our family. It was a lot of planning for it. His birthday party didn't go as planned, but it worked out. It was hard on me this time going to Arkansas, because we ended up driving (which was not planned at first), but we made it. We stopped in Missouri on our way down. We had to leave after Grandpa's party to drive part way home (thank goodness for having relatives in Northern Arkansas. While we were there we did get to enjoy different things. Joel and I went to the rodeo. It was Joel's first time. He did the Mutton Busting, and the Cow Scramble. We both had such a blast. Yes we did not get back to our Grandparents house until almost midnight. Good thing I was getting use to where everything was in Mena.

 August also meant Iowa State Fair!!! It is our family tradition to go. It is just a must. We may not do, see, or eat all the elaborate things that are there to do, but we enjoy ourselves. This year one of the highlights was Joel begged to take a ride on the Skylift. Good thing neither one of us are bothered by heights. It was good to spend the last summer outing together just the two of us. This also meant at the end of the fair week school started. I was sad that summer flew so fast, but we made some awesome memories. It meant school time. Joel started 2nd grade this year. I can not believe it still that I have a 2nd Grader. Time has flown by so fast. So with his backpack, and a sack lunch he took off. I still shed a few tears as he go on that yellow bus, but I quickly wiped the tears off my face, and met him at the line to go into the school. Last hugs before he started his year of school.

 Septmeber brought a new exciting adventure for us. Joel started Flag Football. He wanted to give it a try. He loved it despite having to be on a team called the CYCLONES (It wasn't Iowa State Cyclones, but to him it was close enough. I can't help it I have raised a die hard Iowa Hawkeye fan!!!) He decided to give soccer a rest for one season, but going to do it again in the spring he says. It was a lot of fun to watch too. Joel also started another year of Cub Scouts as a Wolf Scout. He loves Cub Scouts so much. I am really glad about that too. It is fun to watch him enjoy extra things outside of school and home.

  October is such a wonderful month. It is the month that Joel was born. My sweet young man turned 8 this year. WOW!!! He has brought so much joy and love into my life. I can't imagine my life without him. His laugh and smile is so contagious. He is so much fun. He shared his birthday with a new friend. So, his birthday week was busy. As usual I went and ate lunch with him, and his new friend with his class as well. I bought a cupcake cake for the boys to share with their class. Joel said he wanted to include his friend on his cake. I couldn't say no to the birthday boy. Joel had a wonderful birthday being with his family and a few close buddies. October also brought Halloween. So it meant costume. This year Joel decided to go as a Zombie Clown. Usually we do a theme together, but nope not this year. This Mom is not into the scary things. He is and I was okay with a Zombie Clown.

November brought not only so much to be thankful for, but some new first adventures on Joel's and my journey. Joel had been wanting to see what it was like to go hunting. So, one of our cousins agreed to take him. I will be truthful this Momma was nervous the whole time he was gone, but I knew he was in good hands. Joel loved it very much, and can't wait to do it again. Yep, he wants to do it again. They didn't get close enough to one to shoot the bow, but he got to see some deer in their habitats. So, hopefully he will get one the next time. 

Us watching the Iowa Hawkeyes

Also in Novemeber Joel and I got to do something that we never dreamed of. It was a first for the both of us. Joel got two free tickets to go see the Iowa Hawkeyes wrestle at Carver Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City for the whole day. Neither one of us had been to see any of the Iowa Hawkeyes in action. It was a dream come true for the both of us. We enjoyed watching the Iowa Hawkeyes win against all the teams at their dual, making memories, and being snowed in over night at a hotel watching tv and eating Mexican. What more could a Mom and her son ask for??? NOTHING!!!

Joel Pinning a Guy!

 Before we knew it was December. Which meant Christmas, family time, and so much more. December meant wrestling was in full gear. Practices and tournaments left and right. Due to winter weather, and not really having all weather tires (okay 3 out of the 4 tires are the same ones we had when we got the car. Shhh... don't tell our Grandpa), we decided that it was best to not travel at night to and from Stuart for wrestling this year. Joel really misses his coaches there at WCV. He says he may be at Winterset, but his heart is with WCV Mat Pack. He is doing okay at Winterset though. So, far Joel has went to two tournaments he has had 3 pins this year, 1 win by points, and 2 losses. So, so far two 2nd places. We go to another tournament in a day. Lets see how he does on his home turf. Joel and I had a wonderful Christmas together, and a wonderful Christmas break together. He got to watch a couple of dogs for some people. He did a great job! We enjoyed some family time as we were snowed in. We also took advantage of making some homemade snow ice cream. We cant wait for more snow to make more. 

  Last but not least this year I am proud of my son. He has learned to be selfless. He has taking on the love of caring about others that are less fortunate that himself. This year our church has had a passion for the homeless of Iowa. Right now our focus has been in Des Moines. Joel for his birthday asked people from our church attending his birthday to bring new socks for homeless children. He has went through his books at home, and is going to donate books to one of the homeless shelters with children. He has got his Wolf den also helping out with winter stuff for the homeless children. Twice now he has went with our young adult group from church to feed the homeless, and take them things. I am blessed that he is a child of God, and lives to do the will of the Lord of loving others.
 May 2016 bring much adventures to your own journeys. I know Joel and I are looking forward to another year full this coming year. We just know that no matter what God has it all planned out!!!