Soccer

As a child, as an adolescent, as a teenager... I was not involved in much. I played viola in the school orchestra, but that was the extent of my extracurricular-ness.

I wanted to play piano, badly. But my dad said no. He didn't want to rent or buy a piano. It would take up too much space. Pick a smaller instrument, he said. Thus the viola.

I wasn't athletic. I didn't care for sports. I liked writing, but I didn't join any the various groups related to journalism. Why? Because I wasn't a joiner. And my parents didn't encourage involvement in after-school activities. They both worked and couldn't provide transportation. And so it was easy to just say no.

Nowadays, we start our kids young. Parent-tot gymnastics at age 12 months. All kinds of Mommy and Me groups. Dance lessons at age 3. We push our kids to get involved, have play dates, join things... succeed! Everything is competitive. From toddlerhood on up.

And so Stefanie did all of these things, and then some. She loved to dance, she loved gymnastics. She was a non-aggressive sort of child, and so these individual sports suited her. No one in her space. No one in her face. Just her in her own bubble, twirling and tumbling.

My husband is Mr. Soccer. Always was, still is. Played soccer, coached soccer... everything from high school to club soccer to Olympic Development to University of Michigan. Soccer, soccer, soccer. When he suggested that our daughter play soccer, I winced and said, "Oh. I'm not sure. She isn't really the assertive type. I think she prefers her individual sports."

I don't know why exactly I was opposed to soccer, but I was.

So we waited.

And then she started playing soccer. And I dreaded the thought of being a soccer mom. I could not see myself sitting on the sidelines, game after game, practice after practice, watching SOCCER. Soccer? Yeah, I don't do sports. Thanks, but no.

But something amazing happened. As I sat there in my lawn chair on the field, I found myself cheering. I found myself bonding with the other soccer parents. I found myself feeling proud of my daughter and her teammates. I realized that I immensely enjoyed watching them progress and develop. I made soccer friends of my own. It dawned on me... I love soccer!

I became the unofficial team mascot. "Honey" is my name. Story for another time. But you know you're integrated into the soccer world when you're the team mascot. That's right... there is no going back.

Watching my daughter's transformation has been incredible. She is a pretty darn good player. She has bonded with her teammates in a way that fills me with envy! How I wish I had that experience as a child! How truly wonderful to watch her confidence build. And how absolutely sweet and special are these girls. Look at them.

I see now that I was close-minded. I dismissed the idea of soccer just because I am not athletic... because I never played sports... because I don't watch sports. How silly of me. What a dummy.

How can this photo not make you smile? To be part of a TEAM... wow. It's fantastic.