hurdles

Changing a girl's mind when she is convinced she can't do something takes more than words sometimes. Emilee started doing hurdles to kind of break up her events in track. Last night she went with David to practice but she would not jump. Stopped every time. For 45 minutes. David tried all kinds of threats and bribes but she was convinced she could not jump. We got there to pick them up and she still had not done one hurdle. I knew we were not leaving until I had seen her jump every last one of them. I too tried words. No go. Then, I added a chocolate shake to the finish line. She's been begging for a chocolate shake for a week. That at least got her started. She jumped the first one and then stopped. I had told her she had to do the whole row. So she went back and started over. She did 2 and stopped. Started over and did 3. I didn't care because she was getting more practice than if she had done them all the first time. Finally, she did the whole race! I was so proud of her. I made her stand at the end of the lane and shout, "I CAN DO IT!" she know's I'm crazy. She did do it and think it's a good event for her to excel at. Not many kids do the hurdles in middle school. David has been helping with the after school track practice. He was deeply pained to watch the kids running at the first meet he went to. He asked the coach if he could help. She was happy to let him. I'm not really sure the coaches know what they are doing and even though the group is smallish, they don't get a lot of individual coaching in their events. It's been good for both Him and Emilee to work together  after supper. I can see she has improved a lot by his help. Tomorrow is their first invitational. I am excited to hear how she does. So far her goal is to not be last, I think tomorrow she is focusing on beating her time and hoping to get fourth.