Category: parenting

children, family, gratitude, humor, kids, motherhood, parenting

Soccer Season Summation

WFAM

The boys’ soccer season officially ended over the weekend.  I never quite recovered my courage to snap a lot of photos during a game.  After experiencing brutal losses in both their season openers, fear won over even though both teams pulled out respectable .500 seasons in the end.  All I could imagine is that I would be clicking away in rapid succession as we were crushed by the opposition.  Nope.  Could not do it.  

I did manage to at least get a photo or two of the boys in their uniforms.  For Moms that just doesn’t get old.  Every kid is cute in a uniform.

Exhibit A for cuteness

I learned two very valuable lessons over the course of the season.  The first being no matter how much I wish it, dream it, or imagine it, my boys will never calmly get ready for any sports-related activity.  They just won’t.  End of story.

See what I mean?

I also learned that letting go of your kids happens a lot sooner than you think and you never can be ready for when  it happens.  As I watched the boys practice soccer with Mad Dog yesterday in our cul-de-sac (because apparently 6 consecutive days of soccer is not enough)  it struck me, my boys are officially Daddy’s boys.   Sure, I had a great run of about seven years and T.Puzzle has held out longer as a Mommy’s boy, but for the most part it’s over.   The boys are now entering official man territory and while Moms are welcome there, they aren’t the top priority any longer.  Winning, independence and building soccer skills are now their main goals (soccer pun intended).

It was fun while it lasted being the center of their universe.  Okay, if you’ve read this blog before, maybe fun is the wrong word.  It actually was kind of overwhelming and nightmarish at times.   Anyway, I will cherish the formative years I had as their number one focus and thank my lucky stars they have someone as awesome as Mad Dog to look up to in the future.

So, in summation, Full Speed and T.Puzzle learned a little more about life from the lessons on the soccer field (as did Mom) and they grew up before my very eyes.   

It was a winning season after all.

Related articles
children, family, humor, kids, motherhood, parenting

Water Break

WFAM

While we struggled at the onset of the boys’ soccer season, we have reached a nice level of flow and acceptance.    Full Speed’s team has jelled and while they may not win every game, they try hard and work well together.  As for T.Puzzle, we have come to realize U-6 soccer is more a test in parental patience than it is anything else.  It’s good there are only two games left in this roller coaster season.  When we lose, we lose in such a spectacular fashion that it is sometimes difficult to regroup and move forward to the next game.  Fortunately, the kids at this level are so firmly planted in the present moment, they attack each new game with the confidence of an undefeated squad.

It has been interesting to watch T.Puzzle evolve over this U-6 season.  He started off much like last year.  His main concern was when the next water break would be called.  Then he slowly began to be invested in the outcome of the game.  First, he actually focused on where the ball was and what the score was for an entire game (this is impressive for a five-year old).  The next game, he took his defense seriously and to the extreme.  He began to use karate moves on the opposition (he has since been coached on keeping his hands to himself).  Now, he gets angry when he has to sit out a period.  He sits with crossed arms, kicks the bench and shoots daggers at Mad Dog (he has since been coached to adjust his attitude).

Looks like he is headed down the Mad Dog/Full Speed-win-at-all-costs road.

Seems I will be quietly waiting for water breaks alone from now on.

children, family, humor, kids, motherhood, parenting

Sign Me Up

WFAM

I love many things about my life.  My husband is one of these.  My two, over-the-top boys are another.  I love that our life is full and busy (it has to be, quiet and low-key doesn’t work in this house).  I love that we have places we need to be and stuff that needs to be accomplished.

I don’t love when apparently we have to cram everything into one, short week.

Soccer is winding down for the boys.  This is good.  Make-up games abound next week.  This is bad. This means three games packed in five days for Full Speed.  What’s that?  Flag football practice starts for him this week, too?  Hmmm, anyone remember karate?  When is he suppose to do that?  Midnights?

What’s next?  Track and Field?  Beach Volleyball?   Olympic Curling?

Do I need to invent a wrist monitor that alerts me every time Mad Dog signs our boys up for something so I can stop him?

Since I never went to science camp as a child (this is not a hint that you need to sign the boys up for science camp, Mad Dog!), I likely will be unable to create such a device.

All I can do is ride the wave of the next crazy week and thank my lucky stars I have two boys who require lots of cheering.

You can sign me up for that any day.

children, family, humor, kids, motherhood, parenting

Parenting is a Kick

WFAM

No matter how long I raise boys, there are aspects of them that I will never understand.  The physicality in which they move through life is fascinating to me.  

Why is it necessary to karate chop each other while brushing teeth?  Why is tackling a part of getting into the car?   Why is furniture considered a jungle gym? 

All I can do is make some rules about safety, hope they follow at least enough to prevent harm and accept that my house resembles a three-ring circus more often than not.

This morning, as I have been working hard with T.Puzzle to control himself while brushing teeth, I saw a rogue high kick escape from his leg.

“Hands and feet to yourself!” I implored.  “No kicking!”

“I didn’t kick him, Mom.  I missed,” he replied.  His tone indicated that by missing his brother’s face with his foot, that he was the epitome of decorum.

So, the morning was saved.  I’d like to say I owe it all to my incredible parenting skills.  Mostly, I owe it all to T.Puzzle’s terrible aim.

children, kids, motherhood, parenting

A Twister of Emotion

WFAM

This afternoon I read the headlines about the tornadoes and severe weather in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.  This also happens to be exactly where Mad Dog is for work this week.  I tried to be rational about the whole thing and that lasted exactly five seconds (give or take).  When my fourth text message and second phone attempt to Mad Dog went unanswered, my internal emotional center began to unravel.  Of course, I pretended externally that everything was fine.  The boys were fairly oblivious until I snapped at them for wrestling.  Then again, they must have figured I’d snap at them for something at some point because after all, it was a Tuesday.  Turns out, Mad Dog was in a meeting that was being held in the basement section of his building.  Ironically, the room that was keeping him the safest, was keeping him from receiving any of my frantic messages.  He was aware there was severe weather.  He didn’t realize the extent of this weather or that his wife was in desperate need to hear from him.  When I finally received a text from him I was so relieved, I had to hold back the rush of tears that promised to completely unhinge me.  All I could think about was how grateful I was that he was safe.  This experience makes me want to do better.  No one can predict the future.  We only can contribute to the moments that unfold right in front of us.  I hope in these moments to make the most of them and let the people I care about know exactly how much they mean to me.

Related articles