No, We Won't Let You Quit

Caroline was adamant today that she could not be on the lacrosse team she had committed too because she wanted her afternoons free, she might be going to a new school soon, she didn't want sports to be her whole life, blah, blah, blah.  I've had enough of her starting something (youth group, horsebackriding, guitar) and then quitting before she even really got started.  Her social fears are behind all of this--fear that she will be made fun of, that someone will start to be her friend and then drop her, fear that she will say or do something inappropriate and then be a pariah--all of which has happened before.  We really got in her face this time  (I am really tired of outlaying hundreds of dollars for nothing).  We reminded her of her favorite movie, Facing the Giants, and how she has to keep going and face her fears too.  That seemed to strike a chord.  By the time I got home, she was dressed and ready to go, with a different attitude.  I wish this worked everytime.  She needs to be on a team because she really gets so much out of the common goal.