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I was lucky enough to get to watch a 4th grade girls basketball tournament on Saturday. Big weekend for us…Maggie’s tourney on Saturday and Frozen Sing a Long on Sunday!
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These games aren’t exactly played under strict rules. If you’ve ever seen a 4th grade girls basketball game, you know what I am talking about. The refs help the kids out when they can. They don’t call every travel or double dribble (they’d never get a full game in) they help the girls figure out where they should stand for free throws and throw ins.
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I was sitting next to a grandma from the other team during the first game. At half time she said “wow, I don’t know how the refs do it, they must be so frustrated.” The funny thing was, they didn’t look frustrated.
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It got me thinking about how 4th grade girls bball refs and beginning knitting instructors at DKA are alike.
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We teach beginning knitting class (knit 101) twice a week, every week. We have a dozen or more new knitters come through our knit 101 class every 2 weeks. I have been teaching this knit 101 class for 4 and 1/2 years.
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I hear at almost every class. “You must be really frustrated watching me knit…I don’t know anything”.
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That couldn’t be farther from the truth. I love watching people learn to knit. I don’t ever get frustrated or feel like they should be doing it faster or should have picked up on it by now. Never. Eventually everyone “gets it”. You can see it in their eyes when they “get it”. I love teaching people this craft. All of our staff here feel the same.
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I’m guessing we’re a lot like the 4th grade basketball refs I saw on Saturday. They seemed to love teaching people their sport. They quietly whispered to the girls “you double dribbled that time” or “you can do it” when they seemed unsure. They smiled when baskets were made (there weren’t too many).
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I think, like me, they like to think they had a hand in helping someone discover a passion.
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That’s what I love. That’s what we love. That’s why we are rarely frustrated teaching someone to knit!
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Oh and the girls lost all 3 games on Saturday. They are just getting there basketball legs under them. But they still have Spartan Pride:)
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Thank you for this Aimee. I see myself on that basketball court – in a knitting sort of way. You Darn Knit Anyway ladies are awesome refs!
I love this comparison Aimee ! When my Ruth was first exploring the joys of fiber arts at the tender age
10, the relaxed and fun atmosphere you all create helped build her confidence. You all have a gift of treating every “player” as though they absolutely belong there . Thanks for that.