Tag: sports

children, family, humor, kids, motherhood, parenting

Believe = Achieve

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T.Puzzle believes he is an extraordinary athlete.  Mad Dog and I continuously crack up over how he thinks he is one of the fastest and most elite players on his soccer team (or any team for that matter).  He likes to compare himself to Lionel Messi who is a professional soccer player from Argentina.  Messi is often considered to be the best soccer player in the world.  Confident much, T.Puzzle?

Having officially started our summer 3v3 soccer season, I had reasonable expectations despite T.Puzzle’s overconfidence.  Last year our only consistent known strategy for victory was to leave Full Speed in all the time.  He had to be our offense, our defense and everything in between.  T.Puzzle and his other five-year old teammates had flashes of brilliance but would quickly lose focus leaving Full Speed alone in the lion’s den.  This year I had a feeling T.Puzzle, with a whole year of growth and maturity under his belt, would at least contribute.  Hopefully, Full Speed would get a break every now and then.

As the first game started, I started to get really, really confused.  T.Puzzle showed such ferocity as he marched the ball down the field, I kept mistaking him for Full Speed.  T.Puzzle wanted a goal.  It was written all over his sweaty little face.   He kept kicking, and kicking and kicking.  He was relentless and began to score goal, after goal, after goal.  By the time our third game straight was victoriously completed, he handily led our team in scoring.  He even reached double digits.  Who is this kid?

Lionel Messi, that’s who.  Guess I better start paying attention when T.Puzzle tells me something.

Messi, jr. on the move Whether you think you can or you can't--you're right. --Henry Ford
If you can imagine it, you can achieve it. If you can dream it, you can become it.
—-William Arthur Ward 

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children, family, humor, motherhood, parenting

Mad about Soccer

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Mad Dog in coaching mode

There is something maddening about playing cul-de-sac soccer with Mad Dog.  He brings out the competitive fire in everyone, even former social workers like me.  Sure, I have no problem letting T.Puzzle score a goal on me here and there, but I would sooner give up wine and chocolate than let Mad Dog score a goal.  I can’t stand it.

I’m not the only one he affects this way.  We had friends over yesterday for our usual Saturday cul-de-sac soccer rumble, and they felt the same way about him.  He’s out for blood.  You rest or take your eyes off him for a moment and he attacks.  Soon, you lose track of yourself entirely.  You start kicking the ball as hard as you can, sacrificing your body in ways you no longer thought your middle-aged body can handle (and in reality, really can’t) and fire off shots that sometimes hit your own off-spring in injurious ways (sorry, T.Puzzle, hope your face is better).

I dare you.  Play one game against him and logic will leave you.

You also will have the time of your life (please don’t tell him I said that).

children, family, humor, kids, motherhood, parenting

Inspired

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Coach warms up his team.

If you are able to step back from the everyday details of motherhood, greater lessons are there for the taking.  I never knew being a soccer Mom could be inspirational.  I’m so glad there were those moments in the season that made me proud of my boys (all three, go Mad Dog!).

Brothers march down the field

This summer Mad Dog coached the boys in a winning season of 3v3 soccer.  When he initially moved T.Puzzle up a division, I balked.  The first set of games that I watched my 5 year-old go up against seasoned 6 and 7 year-olds, I almost fainted from anxiety.  Thankfully, the little man held his own.  I guess having a big brother beat you up on a daily basis toughens you up.  It took me to about mid-season to relax a little (I’m talking a tiny, little bit) and enjoy the games unfolding before me.  I still never enjoyed when T.Puzzle would be launched across the field because of his lack of body weight.  I did love that no matter how many times he got knocked to the ground, he always got back up and back in the game.

T.Puzzle is crushed to the field as the seemingly giant players from the opposition bring the heat.
T.Puzzle goes head to head with a player who is thankfully, more his size.

As for Full Speed, this is the season he learned that your mental game is crucial to achieve your peak, physical performance.  For the last set of season ending games, only him and my nephew (who is only 5 like T.Puzzle), were available to play.  That meant they had to play two against three for three, 24 minute games with zero substitutions.  In the final game, Full Speed pulled a miraculous 5 goals out of his back pocket leading them to a 6-1 victory.  After the game Full Speed told Mad Dog, “My body wanted to quit on me but my mind wouldn’t let it.”

How’s that for inspiration?

A determined Full Speed keeps on going!
children, family, gratitude, humor, kids, motherhood, parenting

What I Didn’t Even Know I Wanted

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This summer is going by in a flash.  It’s all swim lessons, soccer, traveling to see family and using every last ounce of energy to keep up with my boys.

While watching a recent soccer game, a Mom who also has two boys on our team commented on how parenting boys is so much fun.  She is completely right.  Initially, I thought I would be better suited to parent girls.  Who knew I would love to watch my boys tear up a soccer field?  I certainly didn’t.

Could you imagine if I had been given the ability to create the personality of my kids?  They’d have been quiet, easy-going and calm.  Their nicknames could have been Zero Speed and No Puzzle (most boring blog ever!).

I’m so glad it was out of my hands.  Thankfully, even though they challenge me in many ways, they are exactly who I was meant to have.

children, family, humor, motherhood, parenting

(Toe)tal Commitment

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I have come to accept that I live in a different universe than that of my boys.  Even though our galaxies cross paths sometimes, mostly I am a lone planet wondering how I gave birth to two such incredibly competitive creatures.  We’ve always known that Full Speed was born a competitor.  T.Puzzle’s competitive streak has been a slow fire burning that lately has erupted into volcanic displays of passion and heart especially on the soccer field (his tantrums after a loss are a sight to behold). 

As with anything done to an excess, there can be a downside.  After fifteen pounding hours of soccer camp last week, regularly playing soccer in the cul-de-sac and three games of 3v3 soccer on Monday night, little T.Puzzle has developed an infected, ingrown toenail.  Now, I’ve never had one so I can’t say for sure how painful it is.  According to Mad Dog, ingrown toenails can cause shooting pains that will make you see stars.  And yet, T.Puzzle played on.  Even after our trip to the podiatrist and screams of fear and pain from him as the aggravating piece of toenail was cut away, he asked me if he could play soccer when we got home.

I do not understand.  Wouldn’t a normal kid at least want a day or two to rest his foot?  Or maybe play a sport that doesn’t involve kicking? 

At least he enjoys his daily foot soaking.  Maybe I’ll have someone to go to the spa with me after all.  That’s something I completely understand.