Soccer Mom.
The cursed soccer Mom.
Close your eyes.
(ok open them so you can read what I've got in my head...)
Imagine the perfect soccer Mom.
She is pretty, smiling, well dressed, but not over done. Makeup on, but not too much.
Car is clean, or should I say the minivan is clean.
Knows everyones schedule, all five of her children are fed, washed, homeworked and eager to practice.
She knows all the other Moms that walk on, near, or across the field.
Everyone wants to be like her, or near her, or share coffee with her.
Because she has it all together.
After years of running my girls around all of Wilkes Barre for softball, and soccer, and cheerleading and 6am swimming practice, I have the driving to Godawful places and crazy hours down pat.
I never totally got the SOCCER MOM THING.
I guess I was in self preservation mode at the time since I was a young, divorced, single Mom of two teen girls that were attending Catholic HS.
I was a pariah.
Then as I was driving my gals around town I was driving an orange Vibe, compact car that had music too loud and junk cluttering every square inch.
But they got everywhere they needed and wanted to be.
Oh boy did we have the "Cheerleader Moms" at good old Bishop Hoban High School.
I was always friendly, and actually liked a few of them. beyond the white teeth were some really funny ladies.
It took until Missi was about to graduate that I found out what it was all about.
Alot of these ladies were in self preservation mode too.
People that "have it all together" sometimes are really just trying to get by as best they can.
They might be lonely, discouraged, feeling "less than the best" and still have to PULL THEIR SHIT TOGETHER because THIS IS WHAT MATTERS MOST RIGHT NOW!
I remember after my heart surgery in August feeling even more determined to be at ALL of Allies football games so that I was still the MOM. Moms would see that I am alright, I am still the Mom, and being on the cusp of death doesnt mean I AM DEAD. It was interesting to sit in the bleachers with a 1 month old in a bjorn strapped to my chest which was healing from heart surgery, when I couldn't drive yet, or sit in the front seat of the car. My father would guide me around the Meyers stadium by the hand clearing a path for me to make it through the crowd, without being bumped or jostled.
He knew I HAD to be there.
I was makeupped, dressed well, not too well, smiling and saying hello to ANYONE that I knew.
BECAUSE, I was there.
I AM THE MOM, and THESE ARE MY BABIES!!!
Is this the case with all soccer Moms.
No. Some really are there to be seen and noticed and made a fuss over.
But not my favorite soccer Mom. I think she is there because she is brave, and strong, and KNOWS that no one else can do this job but her.
Yup she is beautiful, she is smart, funny, and everyone wants to be just like her.
But I believe thats because she knows what it is really about. She exudes Mother commitment even on the worst days.
We must build dikes of courage to hold back the flood of fear.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Being a perfect soccer Mom is all about the MOM PART.
Not the SOCCER part.
The SOCCER is up to the kid.
To me anyway, I like being the mom that is just there.
No fanfare, no bells and whistles on my minivan.
I am grateful (or am trying VERY HARD SOMEDAYS) to be able to sit and claim the blond haired boy with the loud voice and sweatiest body on the field.
I know how quickly my position can change. I have been there, it totally sucks.
Holding my week old son and not knowing if I would ever see him grow up at all-to now watching his whiry body run all over the soccer field with JOY on his face. Call me Soccer Mom.
Today I am grateful, Today is ok with me.
I know the days can grow darker,
None of us is immune to "the bad things in life."
But for the days that the JOY is present, and we can cheer for our "Princes", and whoop it up for our heroes in shin guards and socks that are too big..... Soak it in, drink it up, bathe in it, swallow it down, fill yourself, with the rewards of being the Soccer Mom.
There is no one like you, or me.
We are a gift to those of the present and the future.
Our message and presence will linger in the hearts of these PEOPLE.
OUR PEOPLE, that right now are consumed by soccer balls, and water bottles.
They are our gift. We are the deliverer, messengers of the gifts we have created.
We can mold the story, guide the direction, encourage the creation,
But no one can take the reigns of THEIR lives but them.
Enjoy the ride I tell myself, for this too shall pass.
Soak up the sweaty, hugs, and salty kisses.
I am here today, and will remain the force for the boy.
WE will do this, that is courage.
I will live, and he will grow and learn, and share his wonders with the world.
Define beautiful and I can show that to you.. easily.
Beautiful carries potties in her minivan. yup, thats it.
I need a potty in my car now, damn.
Fear knocked at the door. Faith answered. No one was there.
(ok open them so you can read what I've got in my head...)
Imagine the perfect soccer Mom.
She is pretty, smiling, well dressed, but not over done. Makeup on, but not too much.
Car is clean, or should I say the minivan is clean.
Knows everyones schedule, all five of her children are fed, washed, homeworked and eager to practice.
She knows all the other Moms that walk on, near, or across the field.
Everyone wants to be like her, or near her, or share coffee with her.
Because she has it all together.
After years of running my girls around all of Wilkes Barre for softball, and soccer, and cheerleading and 6am swimming practice, I have the driving to Godawful places and crazy hours down pat.
I never totally got the SOCCER MOM THING.
I guess I was in self preservation mode at the time since I was a young, divorced, single Mom of two teen girls that were attending Catholic HS.
I was a pariah.
Then as I was driving my gals around town I was driving an orange Vibe, compact car that had music too loud and junk cluttering every square inch.
But they got everywhere they needed and wanted to be.
Oh boy did we have the "Cheerleader Moms" at good old Bishop Hoban High School.
I was always friendly, and actually liked a few of them. beyond the white teeth were some really funny ladies.
It took until Missi was about to graduate that I found out what it was all about.
Alot of these ladies were in self preservation mode too.
People that "have it all together" sometimes are really just trying to get by as best they can.
They might be lonely, discouraged, feeling "less than the best" and still have to PULL THEIR SHIT TOGETHER because THIS IS WHAT MATTERS MOST RIGHT NOW!
I remember after my heart surgery in August feeling even more determined to be at ALL of Allies football games so that I was still the MOM. Moms would see that I am alright, I am still the Mom, and being on the cusp of death doesnt mean I AM DEAD. It was interesting to sit in the bleachers with a 1 month old in a bjorn strapped to my chest which was healing from heart surgery, when I couldn't drive yet, or sit in the front seat of the car. My father would guide me around the Meyers stadium by the hand clearing a path for me to make it through the crowd, without being bumped or jostled.
He knew I HAD to be there.
I was makeupped, dressed well, not too well, smiling and saying hello to ANYONE that I knew.
BECAUSE, I was there.
I AM THE MOM, and THESE ARE MY BABIES!!!
Is this the case with all soccer Moms.
No. Some really are there to be seen and noticed and made a fuss over.
But not my favorite soccer Mom. I think she is there because she is brave, and strong, and KNOWS that no one else can do this job but her.
Yup she is beautiful, she is smart, funny, and everyone wants to be just like her.
But I believe thats because she knows what it is really about. She exudes Mother commitment even on the worst days.
We must build dikes of courage to hold back the flood of fear.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Being a perfect soccer Mom is all about the MOM PART.
Not the SOCCER part.
The SOCCER is up to the kid.
To me anyway, I like being the mom that is just there.
No fanfare, no bells and whistles on my minivan.
I am grateful (or am trying VERY HARD SOMEDAYS) to be able to sit and claim the blond haired boy with the loud voice and sweatiest body on the field.
I know how quickly my position can change. I have been there, it totally sucks.
Holding my week old son and not knowing if I would ever see him grow up at all-to now watching his whiry body run all over the soccer field with JOY on his face. Call me Soccer Mom.
Today I am grateful, Today is ok with me.
I know the days can grow darker,
None of us is immune to "the bad things in life."
But for the days that the JOY is present, and we can cheer for our "Princes", and whoop it up for our heroes in shin guards and socks that are too big..... Soak it in, drink it up, bathe in it, swallow it down, fill yourself, with the rewards of being the Soccer Mom.
There is no one like you, or me.
We are a gift to those of the present and the future.
Our message and presence will linger in the hearts of these PEOPLE.
OUR PEOPLE, that right now are consumed by soccer balls, and water bottles.
They are our gift. We are the deliverer, messengers of the gifts we have created.
We can mold the story, guide the direction, encourage the creation,
But no one can take the reigns of THEIR lives but them.
Enjoy the ride I tell myself, for this too shall pass.
Soak up the sweaty, hugs, and salty kisses.
I am here today, and will remain the force for the boy.
WE will do this, that is courage.
I will live, and he will grow and learn, and share his wonders with the world.
Define beautiful and I can show that to you.. easily.
Beautiful carries potties in her minivan. yup, thats it.
I need a potty in my car now, damn.
Fear knocked at the door. Faith answered. No one was there.
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