Nothing was more apparent at just how much Joshua has grown in himself than his first ever sports day last week.
Joshua is my super sensitive solider and can often be found doling out hugs and crying at the thought of anyone (including himself) being left out, or anyone being upset.
The tears have flown freely for him a little while back just at the thought of calling another boy the wrong name as it might have upset him.
Needless to say the thought of a competitive sports day had me slightly on edge.
The first race was a running race and I was so proud has he gave it his all and he came second, he dutifully lined up for his second place sticker and the beam on his face made my heart swell with pride.
However the second race was something else altogether …. the egg and spoon race
Joshua set off well but lost concentration 1/4 way down the track and dropped the egg, on retrieving it, he lost it again and then a third time.
At this point he looked up to see where his friends were and most were almost across the finish line.
He looked at me and my heart broke, his face verged on the crumbled look of defeat and a little piece of me died inside.
There was nothing left for it but to cheer him on and after shouting to keep going and clapping the parents on the same side of the track as me began to cotton on and cheered too … then the children in the other classes on the opposite side of the track cheered and clapped and my little man set off at a jaunty pace down the track … when much to my amazement he started to work the crowd with head nodding, smiles and I could have sworn there was a wink in there too …
He crossed the finish line with a beam on his face that beat reaction of his previous second place and all the kids high-fived him back to his seat.
At that moment I could not have been more proud of my littlest big boy, at how much he has grown, how much he tried and for keeping going when so many others in his class cried and rand to parents.
Since arriving on his first morning at this school he has done nothing but exceed my expectations and that in part is down to the staff at the school but also to my little guy at listening and trying