The Rockets!

You know when you are sailing through life, faster and faster, and then something crashes into you to bring you back to reality. Like right after visiting the dentist you swear you are going to brush and floss two times a day, rinse with that fluoride stuff, and definitely use those TWO toothbrushes they give you. And, you do . . . at first. And then you skip flossing and forget to brush two times a day and put that fluoride stuff in a cabinet and forget about it. And, then you realize your dentist appointment is tomorrow and you floss three times in a row and make your gums bleed and add fluoride stuff to your shopping list.

 Or, when you decide it’s time to try a medication to help with your daughter regulate her emotions (wasn’t that a classy way to put it) and you realize that she can’t swallow a pill. So, you decide to practice with mini M & Ms every morning. And, that doesn’t work so well and you don’t necessarily practice EVERY morning. And, then you finally call the doctor and decide to try a chewable, but you can’t get it because it’s recalled. And, so you try a capsule that you can open and pour into a spoonful of honey, but that drug doesn’t work. And, then your daughter runs out of the house one morning in a fit of fury because her danish is too hot (not to self: 20 seconds for one little danish is too long!) and can’t open the front door because it’s locked and bangs on the glass so hard that she breaks it and cuts her hand. And, then you realize that she MUST practice swallowing mini M & Ms every.single.morning.

 Or when you solicit donations from your friends and family for your daughter’s fundraiser for her hockey team and one your very best friends says that she didn’t even know that Cayla was on a hockey team!!!!! So, I think I’ve told you enough about my dental hygiene for one day. And, let me reassure you that Cayla is “fine” after the window-breaking incident. The cut is small, the window is scheduled to be repaired, and we are back to pill swallowing practice every morning and assorted evenings. So, let me present to you (drum roll please) . . .

The Rockets!

Outdoor Tournament in Toledo!
Cayla is second from the left in the back row - look for the colorful stick:)

Over the years (I think I’m allowed to say ‘over the years’ if it’s been more than five) Cayla has tried a variety of classes, clubs, lessons, therapies, teams, yadda, yadda, yadda. Some have been more successful than others. We choose carefully and spend more money than I’d care to mention. However, let me tell you that private piano lessons with a certified music therapist are far superior to the community drum circle run by a gentleman named Oz. Tap dance with the best teacher in the world, Miss Chris was a winner. Day camp at the Christian farm when kids of all ages were free to roam all morning riding horses, shooting bows and arrows, and beading bracelets was a disaster. We both left the first day in tears. We left her lunchbox there because her tantrum was so great that I couldn’t wrestle her to the car and carry it. No one helped us make our exit and I had no desire to go back later and get it. But enough of that. Some of the activites that Cayla does are for typical kids – like her fabulous soccer team – go Flamingos! Some are for typical kids, but explicitly state that kids with special needs are encouraged to join – like the swim team we're trying this summer. Stay posted. And, some are specifically for kids with special needs. We’re often a little wary of signing Cayla up for these activities. In many ways she is close to typical and is very aware of “special” vs “typical” groups. She spent 3 years in a self-contained, special education classroom and made it clear to us on many occasions that she wanted to be in a regular classroom. So, we weren’t sure about the hockey. We needed have worried. Look at this face.

Pure Bliss!

 Although some activities, classes, and teams are accessible and welcoming to Cayla, hockey was not. There is not really any “rec” hockey around us. The least serious team you can play on is a “house team”, like Collin does, full of hockey-crazed, competitive, cliquey nutheads that play 3-4 times week. So, unlike soccer with it’s laid back rec leagues, dance class with it’s awesome teachers who aren’t trying to turn out future NHL stars, and swim team where EI children who refuse to swim can sit under a towel for the entire practice when that’s what they need to do, hockey was simply not an option for Cayla. Until we found The Rockets!  And, even better, Flannery helped coach.  This was good because when your mom coaches your twin brother’s soccer team, and is an assistant coach on his hockey team, Life in NOT good.

Bend your knees!  Stick on the ice!  You are spectacular!

 So, every Sunday morning, at 8:30am, Cayla headed out to the rink that is 5 minutes (!!!!) from our house for HER hockey practice. Collin is one of the best sports’ fans I know. He didn’t disappoint this season. Although he had a blast running around with all the other siblings, he spend a great deal of time watching and cheering on his sister.

Go Cayla!

Luckily the glass prevented her from hearing what he was actually saying. Remember, he plays on a team of future NHL (or so they think . . ) meatheads who aren’t shy to point out missed passes, poor defense, etc. And, in fact, it was a mistake to put him on the “parent side” of the season ending kid/parent game. He got a little huffy with the parents and their shoddy defense. Why were we letting the Rockets score so much?!?!?! He ended up slashing one of the Rockets for “tripping” him. His subsequent time out did nothing to quell his temper. However, other than that transgression he was the Rockets #1 Fan.

Cayla loved having Flannery on the ice during practice. They spent about half the time working on skating and half the time scrimmaging. The growth all the skaters showed was phenomenal. Some of them couldn’t even stand in their skates on the first day and were flying down the ice by May. And, when I say flying, I mean flying. If you ever happen to get on the ice at the same time as a really fast skater, who just happens to have Autism, make sure you, um, get out the way. Pucks and sticks and goals may be somewhat irrelevant to them☺  If you are in their path, you will get plowed over.

Occassionaly, coaches outnumbered players on the ice

 The head coaches, Kim and Jacki, are everything disabled hockey coaches should be. They are hilarious, easygoing, hilarious, non-stop talkers, hilarious, and good at starting cheers. They masterminded the whole team, set up fundraisers to make sure it’s free for all players, and decided to sign the Rockets up for two tournaments this year. If you have never been to a disabled hockey tournament then put it on your bucket list. I laughed, I cried, I laughed again.

Cayla taking a faceoff!

 Picture this. Cayla has a breakaway. By breakaway, I mean, she is moving at a pace slightly faster that standing still toward the goal with the puck. A few of her teammates are sitting somewhere on the ice doing snow angles or crying because their skates are too tight and they want to go home. ‘A’ has dropped his stick and gloves and is attempting to shuffle to the bench. Flannery, who is on the ice, picks up his stick and gloves and ferries him to the bench. ‘C’ the only other girl on the team, is doing her “fast skating”. C’s “fast skating” is when she moves her feet back and forth as fast as she can. It’s sort of reminiscent of “Flintstone Legs”. Unfortunately, ‘C’s’ fast skating is much slower than her regular skating. ‘J’ is skating as fast as he can around the rink oblivious to Cayla and the puck. ‘D’ is coming to help Cayla. He is moving at breakneck speed and accidently crashes into the boards. D's crashes are epic.  He crashes about 2-3 times per shift.  He must have some impressive bruises. His bruises may even rival rugby bruises. So, Cayla is all alone in her breakaway. The players on the other other team look to be at least 16 years old. They are winning by a lot. They are super, uber excited that finally a Rocket has made it into their end. They pretend to defend Cayla, who is still moving at a snail’s pace. Somehow they keep missing her even as they throw their bodies down and slide in front of her. One of the sliding players miscalculates a bit and does some real defense on Cayla. It doesn’t stop her and she rips her shot. It has just enough speed to trickle toward the goal without stopping.  It’s a bit wide, but the goalie does some magic and CAYLA SCORES! The crowd goes wild. Her brother screams at the top of his lungs and bangs on the glass. Heck we all do. In the midst of high fives, hugs, and fist bumps, the opponent’s goalie comes and hands her the puck. You always have to have the puck from your first goal.

 So, yes, Julie, Cayla plays hockey. She is on the ice very Sunday morning from October to May. Flannery coaches, I tie her skates, Collin cheers her on. She is #13, which she picked because that was Collin’s hockey number this year. She can’t wait for her second season. Check out the team website. Thanks to all who have donated to the team fundraiser. It’s a very special team for a very special group of kids. Go Rockets!

Future NHL star!