Full Speed’s flag football season wrapped up this morning. It took him a while to hit his stride. Once he gained some momentum in the season, he became one of the team’s most electrifying players. Parents would comment on the sideline how he was all heart. He gave no less than 100% for each and every play whether it was in a game or at practice. His little fifty pound body was flying, diving, rolling and leaping all over that field. There were touchdowns, sacks, two-point conversions and Tasmanian devil-like runs down the field.
The season was not without its bumps. Like Mad Dog says, every superhero has an Achillies heel. Crazy Legs was not immune.
Rain.
He doesn’t like rain. He doesn’t like his clothes to be wet. The more rain-soaked his football jersey, the worse his attitude became.
Crazy Legs may return to flag football to try to reclaim some of his early season glory.
Let’s hope next season is full-out sunshine or Crazy Legs may have to change his nickname to Lazy Legs.
We had a good week. To quote T.Puzzle he “didn’t be bad to his friends” at school (always a bonus) and Full Speed has rightfully earned the nickname “Crazy Legs” on his flag football team. This is Full Speed’s first season of flag football and he has taken to it like a fish to water. I marvel how this determined little athlete is actually genetically related to me. He must have all of Mad Dog’s sport-related genes. Not surprisingly, I tend to become highly anxious watching Full Speed play. Naturally, T.Puzzle senses this anxiety and feeds off of it masterfully. We end up bickering like an old, married couple. I have since learned to place him far away from me during games (I tried separate fields but that somehow felt wrong) and we all are happier for it.
My life from here on out will be heavily sports-centric. I must accept this as my fate or I will crumble under the pressure. Fortunately for me, I’m Full Speed’s and T.Puzzle’s number one fan. Look out 3 on 3 soccer, we are coming for you soon!
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.
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.
I haven’t necessarily wanted to share with you about the boys’ current soccer season. The first two games of the season were so pitiful, I actually took to trying to disguise myself at subsequent games. Thankfully, Mad Dog’s mad skills have turned both boys’ teams around. I can now freely leave my wigs and sunglasses at home. Look for Mad Dog’s blog in the future called, “Winning is Everything. One Man’s Journey to Ultimate Soccer Coaching Success, All Thanks to My Beautiful Wife” (or something like that).
Of course before last Saturday’s game for T.Puzzle, I had an in-depth discussion with him that his focus should be on kicking the ball, NOT playing tag with a rascally teammate. Whatever it was, both squads have improved dramatically from that first week. While I enjoy when they win, I can walk away happy if they gave it their all.
This recent soccer success has convinced Full Speed that he is going to be a professional soccer player. His dream is to play for Argentina so he can be on the same team as Lionel Messi. I told him I would miss him and that I would do my best to travel to as many games as I could.
I saw the lightbulb go off in his head. “Mom, you could just move with me to Argentina! Then you wouldn’t miss me at all.”
With Mad Dog’s soccer genes and a heart of gold, I predict he is going to give Lionel Messi a run for his money.
