If Status Mattered....

I always wondered what the big hype was about when people would talk and joke about being a "soccer mom." In recent weeks i have come to understand. It is a lot more work than i ever thought it would be and my kids are young and so practice is only twice a week. Well, it's a lot of work at least if you want to be the involved, dedicated parent anyway. So if statuses count, then I've made it (not that it was a goal by any means, i just wanted them to have exercise and be social).

I have the minivan, i have the kids in soccer.....

BUT those kinds of things don't really matter do they? Really, the thing i learnt the most through all of this is that if not careful it can only be something to pull a family apart, to stress it out, and make it (or me) grumpy and over-whelmed, and no one likes a grumpy family, no one IN the family does anyway.

I think there is a fine balance in life between all the things that are good to give us experience and things that distract us from what's most important. These things can be the same, it just depends on how we treat them and what our priorities are. I can only imagine what it's like for many, many other parents who have their children involved in multiple activities aside from school. When is enough, really enough? When it's a chore? When your family is falling apart? When you are so worn out that you don't "make time" for the essentials. What are the essentials for you?

So yes, I'm a Soccer Mum now, but the status that i really want is so much more than that and it's a status that only matters to one other person really. He doesn't care about the "things" we find to fill our time, He cares about the relationships we form and keep and the good we do with our time for the benefit of others.

This is truly a lesson that will make me ponder more the next time we are presented with another activity....we grow by experience right? Mostly i am glad though, the kids are enjoying themselves and other than John being at work during the week we have been fortunate to make it a family affair.

It poured for their first game! :-)

Some of Edy's teammates, The Ladybugs.

Eden is #4 (which just happens to be the number i was in HS for field hockey)

Immanuel is #2

Soccer and rain go hand in hand...

Iman's team, The Falcons (the teams pick their own names)

P.S. Give yourselves a pat on the back moms, regardless, it's a ton of work and quite exhausting at times! No one else could do it! ;-)