Soccer mom

Have I ever mentioned how much I hate sports?  Watching them, playing them...I find them so very dull.

And yet here I am...in this life.  Spending so much time sending my children to sporting events.  Finding the socks...do we have clean socks?  Wrestling the shin guards on...then pulling those infernal socks on top.  Now they stab me in the leg with their cleats as I double and triple knot the laces.  Water?  Can we find a water bottle to bring/spill with us?  Which soccer ball is yours.  Don't bounce it into the street/off your sister's head, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD WE ARE TRYING TO GET THERE ON TIME!  How about snacks and puzzle books and toys and colored pencils for the children NOT involved in the soccer playing that day?  Enough chairs for everyone?  Hats?  Check the weather to find out if we'll need jackets or sun tan lotion.  Did everyone finish their homework first?  How about dinner?  Now back at home, make sure those socks/shorts/shirts get thrown down to the basement so they'll be clean for next time.  Baths?  Ugh.

Soccer practice Monday night.

Soccer practice Tuesday night.

Soccer practice Wednesday night (an optional one that I have always opted out of)

Soccer practice Thursday night.

3 Soccer games Saturday.

Usually 1 soccer game Sunday.

Repeat.

Sports.  Ugh.

But it is really really fun to watch them play.  No, really.  It almost makes all the rest of it worth it (almost).

He is attentive but not aggressive.  He does not like to run, and will jog or walk slowly until he knows it is worth committing to going down the field.  He pumps his fist with victory when a goal is scored.  He likes to play goalie and defense, and he is definitely better at those positions.  He runs like a broken doll...hands down by his side...very awkward looking.  He is big for his age, and could out-run, over power most of the boys...if he would just figure that out.  He cheers on his teammates and pays close attention to the game, even when he is not on field.  He frequently gets "injured" and limps around a bit.  But he does not ask to be taken out of the game and he pulls himself together when he's disappointed in his own play.  He does not talk to or joke around much with his teammates, who all go to different schools than him.  His coaches love him and call him "Spurge"...he follows their direction well and absorbs the rules and plays very well.  He is not the star.  He is not the klutz.  This is not the sport that makes him smile with joy and want to practice.  But he is not yet willing to give it up, so he must be having fun all the same.  He is #8 on the white team that has lost every game they have played.  Go White Lightning!


She is pure joy on the field.  She is FAST, and can run down most of the girls.  She is attentive but not aggressive.  Well, until she successfully takes the ball down the field.  Then you can see a switch turn on and she is suddenly in every play, struggling to take the ball, trying over and over to steal that ball away.  She smiles the whole game.  She apologizes to nearby girls when she misses the ball...even if they are on the opposite team.  She knows every player's name on her team, and which parent belongs to them.  She sometimes stumbles over her own feet out on the field, but she pops back up and keeps on running (after apologizing, of course).  Her ponytail bounces and wispies fly in her eyes as she bounds up and down the field.  She does not pay attention to the game when she is not playing...until she is ready to go back in.  Then she stands on the sidelines, at the ready...just hoping and wishing her coach will put her back in.  She loves water breaks and after game snacks and putting a green hair ribbon in to match her uniform.  She is #8 on the green team.  Her suggestion for the team name was the Trees (their uniforms are green)...other girls suggested Green Apples or Grass.  The coach managed to convince them to go with a more fearsome name.  Go Gators!


He runs like a crazy man all over the field.  He will sometimes just dramatically dive down on the ground for no apparent reason.  He stays about 3 feet from the pack of children most of the time, yelling and cheering and getting very excited about the pack of running boys.  Sometimes the excitement builds up and he will randomly tackle a boy next to him.  He is learning that tackling is NOT allowed.  He does not understand dribbling...he stops the ball, takes a few steps back, and then runs up to kick it once.  When he makes contact with the ball (once or twice a game), he is so excited that he thumbs up to the spectators and forgets the game is still going on.  He desperately wants to be goalie, so much so that he will run all the way down the field to go stand near the goal to get ready for the ball to come.  When he is goalie, he frequently turns his back on the game and plays in the net like a monkey.  He loves his water breaks.  He smiles for much of the game and seems so happy just to be running and watching the other boys dribble and score.  He is #2 on the gray team...Go Team Flash!