My Foot In My Mouth: September 2014

Sunday, September 21, 2014

The reluctant soccer mom

I was guaranteed the AYSO would give me a refund if the girls hated their first soccer practice. But they didn't. I was even told that if they played their first game and decided it wasn't for them, I'd get part of my money back. But luckily, we won't be asking for any refunds. Every Saturday for the next few months will be spent on the soccer field because they love playing. And even though I thought soccer moms were out of their minds for sitting out in the heat and screaming their heads off, I'm really enjoying my time amongst them.

Taylor is her team's super defender and goal keeper. It baffles me how she could go from being so timid in basketball to so aggressive in soccer. She flops down on the grass to grab the soccer ball in the goal box (Is that what it's called?), while the other team is still kicking at the ball and barely missing her face. She has a wonderful coach who really encourages her, and she's quickly made friends with her teammates. I'm really thankful it's turned out to be a real confidence booster for her.

Corinne spent the first two soccer games doing cartwheels and round offs on the field. She was really distracted by other players who had the same shoes as her, and she was really pissed off that her team didn't have matching hair bows like Taylor's team. But she's motivated by bribery, and today I buckled and told her I'd buy her an easel I was actually already planning on buying, if she'd just show a little effort. Three goals later, she runs off the field and says, "NOW can I get an easel?" She is weird and wonderful, that one.