It's Saturday... Calling All Soccer Moms/Dads... Where are you today ?

For the last SIX YEARS on Saturday morning during the fall and spring months, you can find my husband in the same place....the SOCCER FIELD.

Now, I hate the term "soccer mom" or "soccer dad". Soccer has been my husbands passion since he was in high school. He played high school soccer, coached high school soccer, coached college level soccer, then (and currently) coached my daughters teams from age 3 - 10 (depending on how old Shayna was), coaches All Stars for the town and started coaching high school soccer once again. So, on Saturdays during September, October, April, May and June Shayna and her father are on the field.

When Shayna was a ripe young age of three, she put on her first pair of cleats. She spent more time laying down on the soccer field looking at clouds and then walking around picking flowers than playing. When she was on the field, all the kids ran in a "clump" anyway. There was no real game. However, 6 years later, through 12 different soccer seasons (2 fall, 2 spring EVERY year) this kid has gotten good. It is amazing to watch her development. What is amazing, is her brain can handle the intensity of the game and know exactly what everyone should do. However, her body and skill hasn't caught up with her brain. Give her just a few more seasons. This kid is going to be fabulous !

Good coaches are hard to find. Now, realistically, we didn't have to "find" any coach. Donnie (my husband, her father) is her coach. I need to fully admit he is a GOOD coach. Winning isn't the goal. (although they have placed first or second for several seasons). The goal of the game is to improve, have fun, create teamwork and build sportsmanship ! Put it this way, other coaches put their kids on my husbands team. He is well thought of and sought out !

I need to admit, I take "soccer practices" and "soccer games" as my "time off" as a mom. I am with Shayna transporting her, educating her and entertaining her 24/7 EXCEPT for soccer. Since my husband is her coach, I let him handle soccer. The parents all joke around when I show up at a game. "Who are you ?" they tease. "We forgot Shayna had a mom !," they continue. This season they have been especially "brutual" as I have actually showed up for each soccer practice and the first game this past weekend. (with Donnie's coaching schedule he can't make it home between HS practice for his JV girls and the Under 10 Park/Rec league that Shayna plays on). The other parents are amazed that I am actually present.

If you haven't ever met a "soccer mom" just show up to any field. The "soccer mom" are the ones with the coolers full of food, sitting on camping chairs, with three other kids running around with their "schedule" of everyones games for that day. It is an amazing site !