Yes, my blogging has been slow, slower and slowest in recent weeks. What DO I do all day? Let's see: Drivekidstoschoolvolunteeratschoolcoffeelunchmeetingtrytosavetheworldlaundry kitchendishesdogwalklibrarydutypickkidsupmusiclessonsbasketballsoccerguitar baseballhomeworkdinnerstoriesbed.
Yep, that about sums it up.
Sweet Baby Jeebus, nobody told me having two school-aged kids would involve this much driving. You might as well put a big target on the roof of my van, since I'm responsible for the depletion of the ozone layer. Some scientist may want to track my emissions. I feel so guilty that I want a Prius Van. I would say I want a Prius, but it wouldn't hold nearly as many fruit leather wrappers, "lost" water bottles, misplaced shinguards, and jackets. And a basketball that rolls... and rolls... and rolls... testing the frontier of my sanity. (Mental note: make oldest child remove basketball from third row seat tomorrow.) A mom recently said to me, "That's why my kids plays violin, plays only violin, and doesn't do these sports thing. Violin is alone activity. Teacher comes to the house. We don't have to leave home." I thought she'd follow that up with a flippant "Duh, winning!" ... but she didn't, even after I prompted her. (And now, she stands a little further away from the classroom door and nervously backs away from me if I step too near.)
Anyway ... raising athletes is loads of fun, and I really love how sports affects them in a positive way. They always get exercise, have great attitudes, healthy habits, and friends with the same interests -- lucky kids! Both kids just wrapped up a basketball season; for Dash, it was his first. It was his first "frolic up and down the court, skipping and attempting a cartwheel at times, rarely if ever handling the ball and guarding my guy even when I'm on offense" season. (He won't play basketball again -- just not his thing.) For Petunia, it was her second season, also the second in which she stomached me as her coach. Girl's got game, especially on defense. She's not afraid to back-that-truck-up, box out, pivot, and even shoot -- and score! Our team this year was super-special, too, so I'm sad that my coaching career the season is over.
But that means it's time for ... coach-pitch baseball (Dash, of the Reds) and soccer (Petunia, of the Red Storm)! Baseball means cheering for my little slugger (and man, does he ever slug!) and hiding from the other soccer parents ... wait, NOT THIS YEAR!
This year, in her first game, Petunia spent the entire game in goal. We've been sending her, with a friend, to weekly private goalie coaching for a few months now. We're not making her do this; we offered her the opportunity, and she seized it, having declared soccer her greatest love at age 4 and ever since. She's been working hard. And frankly, she needs the work. She's not the fastest on the field, and she seemed timid in goal last season. She could use to build both skills and confidence.
Well, timid no more! My girl stopped 20-30 shots on goal, holding the other team scoreless. For the first time ever in my life, I heard parents whispering in the stands: "Who's that girl in goal? She's good!" -- and, though it took a few minutes, I realized they were talking about MY KID!
Look, I know that I'm supposed to believe that my kid is The Best At Everything. But when it came to soccer, sometimes my time in the stands was spent praying hard that she didn't screw up (again). She loves soccer so much, but for years, it didn't seem to love her back.
But now? Now, it's a whole new ball game. Leaving practice today, her coach asked me to come over and talk to him. He told me he feels like something has "clicked," making a point that it wasn't just in goal -- she was faster and more skillful on the field, didn't choke over errors, and did better in every single practice. He said she's the most improved player by far (giving me a little chuckle -- she probably had the most territory to gain there) -- and said he feels like she's a huge asset to the team now. She's clearly figured out how to play this game she's loved for 7 years -- and he was clearly amazed.
I'm not. She's my kid: The Best At Everything. ; )
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