September 19, 2007
ask and you shall recieve (and then you will start to wonder why you asked in the first place)
Remember how Charlie really REALLY wanted to play soccer? And how I felt bad because I didn’t realize that K-8 ALSO meant “pre-K kids if you ask nicely”?
The next time you hear me say that I felt bad about not doing something for my kids, smack me. Please.
Over the weekend, at one of Henry’s games, Wade started talking to some other moms with kids on the kindergarten teams, and one of them mentioned that they were still scrambling for players. And so, because he’s a good dad, he said, “Oh my son might like to play,” and then he came and found me and said, “Go talk to Beth, she thinks she can get Charlie hooked up to play soccer.
And thus it came to pass that Charlie is playing soccer. Amen.
When I told him, yesterday afternoon, that we had found him a team, he jumped up and down and yelled. And then I told him that Mrs. Matty’s Mom was coaching the team (yes, she has a name, but that’s what Charlie calls her) he jumped and yelled some MORE. And THEN when I told him that he had practice in ONE HOUR, he went crazy.
Of course, twenty minutes later he was saying that he had changed his mind and didn’t want to play, but by then it was TOO LATE. We were GOING to soccer, dammit. And he was going to LIKE IT.
(Spoiler: he loved it. LOVED IT. As we were leaving practice, he said, “I want to play more. When can I play more?” And when I reminded him that he had a game on Saturday, he said, “But I want to play MORE NOW.”)
I really like Charlie’s coach; she’s funny and nice and has managed to have four kids without losing or killing one of them, which I totally respect. So when we got to practice, I said, “If you need any help . . . ”
And she said, “Are you offering?”
“Sure, I would love to help. Do you NEED any help?”
And she said, “Hell YES.” Love her.
And thus it has come to pass that I am a Soccer Mom; we have practice on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, and two games each on Saturday and Sunday. That, combined with the whole Cub Scouts thing, is clearly a sign that the Armageddon is upon us.
Before the Armageddon, go vote for me for an Okie blogger award! But ONLY if you are an active Oklahoma blogger. You know who you are. And so do I. (Kidding! Just kidding! Really.)
Posted by Susan @ 8:00 am • just happy to be here, those damn kids
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September 19th, 2007 at 8:10 am, M&Co. Says:
I’ve never understood why soccer requires two practices a week and then two games on the weekend. It always makes me feel like my head is going to explode with all the other crap the kids do. I don’t really like volleyball, but damn, they have one practice a week, one game a week and call it done.
September 19th, 2007 at 8:19 am, Susan Says:
I meant one practice per week for EACH kid, for a TOTAL of two practices, and then two games each weekend per kid, for a total of four games. Not two practices per kid, which would kill me.
Oh who am I kidding, this may kill me anyway.
September 19th, 2007 at 8:24 am, chichimama Says:
I bow down and worship you. I actively convinced my children that they didn’t like soccer because the practice and game schedule made my head hurt.
And coaching too? You are destined for mommy sainthood. Seriously.
September 19th, 2007 at 8:35 am, Mama Bear Says:
No soccer here where I live. Instead we do the swim team things: 2 hour practice every day plus swim meets on weekends… seriously, several 2 day swim meets on weekends and each day of the meet lasts about 5 or 6 hours. Plus be there early for warms ups and stretching and parents we could use your help timing and with the computers and lining up the athletes and…. argh! My head is exploding!
September 19th, 2007 at 9:03 am, Shan Says:
Oh my Lord. This is what awaits me as a Future Mom of a Post-Babyhood, Post-Toddlerhood, Post-Preschoolerhood Child? Soccer practice twice a week plus two games each weekend day?! Are you kidding me? I’m going to curl up in a fetal position now.
September 19th, 2007 at 9:09 am, Wendy Says:
Was it the wine talking?
September 19th, 2007 at 9:42 am, EZibbets Says:
WoooHooo! Go you!!
I came to be a soccer coach nearly the exact same way.
-Elizabeth
September 19th, 2007 at 11:23 am, Jessica Says:
My votes are in!
By the way, I voted for you in both categories….
September 19th, 2007 at 11:42 am, Busy Mom Says:
Bwahahahahaha!!!
September 19th, 2007 at 12:43 pm, Susie Says:
Oh GOD. Stock up the wine fridge… it’s gonna be a long Fall!
Guess I’m ready for that…got the Odyssey last weekend so I might as well get my Soccer Mom card.
September 19th, 2007 at 1:33 pm, Lori Says:
Oh good luck! I have no idea how my mom made it with just one kid…but it was girls soccer…so I guess it evens out.
Just wait until they have tournaments that last for an entire weekend and are all day long. I think OKC has one that is over 3 weekends, but that might actually be Tulsa.
September 19th, 2007 at 8:25 pm, Bridgets Flame - Caitlin Says:
Come on Susan, don’t spoil it, feeling bad is what Mummies do, I should know, I just blogged long and loud about my own guilt.
I read your post and thanked all the deities in the universe (just to be sure) that my children are a) girls that don’t play soccer (although Hannah is making eyes at Cricket - God forbid) and b) Fairy ballet is for 45 minutes, once a week - and hubby and I drink lattes while they do it. Hallelujah.
September 19th, 2007 at 9:17 pm, Lisa Milton Says:
My heart cries for you Susan. What have you done?
{Ok, you’ll probably breeze through it.}
September 20th, 2007 at 5:15 am, Jeanne Says:
Yikes. I knew soccer had some crazy schedules but TWO games PER KID on weekends?
I think I’m really glad I have three girls…none who have yet uttered the words “I want to play soccer!”
‘Cuz then I probably would have to sign them up and join the insanity…
September 20th, 2007 at 10:55 am, Jenny Says:
Both my kids played (and my husband coached while I team momed) for a couple of years. It was fun but so time consuming! Must be like dog years - one year as team mom or coach is good for 5 years of regular life! I was very happy when my eldest declared at age 11 she was ready to “retire from soccer”.
I don’t really miss dragging my children out of bed at 7:30 on Saturday morning to make a 8:30 game (WHO THOUGHT OF THAT??!!) or bustling across town to make a 5:30 weekday game at the peak of rush hour traffic.
I do kind of miss the families that we suffered with all those years. It’s a little sad to think that the oldest group of kids will be graduating high school this year.
September 20th, 2007 at 8:57 pm, Melissa Says:
Love your website! Just wait, then they’re actually good at it, and get into Select/Premier level soccer. Practice 2-3 times a week for 2 hours, plus a game (or two or three) over the weekend. And you can really compound it by having FOUR- thank goodness only 3 are playing, and only 1 at the above-mentioned level.
Soccer’s Great!!! I just keep repeating it so I don’t go crazy
September 21st, 2007 at 3:49 am, roolalenska Says:
P has practice once a week (it was twice a week before school started) and one game on Saturdays at 1:30. We’re a little upset about the 1:30 thing. It kind of kills the entire day. Her team is cute. They are aged from 4 - 6 years old and we have an equal distribution of boys and girls. My friend’s son plays soccer in a different league nearby. When she was filling out the forms to sign him up she checked off the box next to “willing to help out”. She figured she’d be doing the concession stand, etc. A couple of weeks later she receives her son’s team roster and is surprised to see that she has been appointed coach of the team!
September 27th, 2007 at 12:45 pm, Kari Says:
Lucky, Lucky!
Our local soccer has registrations in May, but games don’t start ’til September. The chances of spaces being available are nil. I was laughed out of the city for asking if maybe, perhaps, pretty-please could my son play (considering we JUST moved into the area in late June.)
So I have it on my calendar that I’d better get my ass in gear in May for next year! Oh, and in gear in January for Tee-ball’s April start!