Soccer Begins

Ever since LB could walk he's been kicking a ball. Or leaves. Or a puzzle piece. Or whatever. You get the idea. I know that I am biased but he has a mean left footed kick. It isn't just me who thinks so. There are other non-biased people like his dad and grandparents and aunt who agree with me. Ha! But seriously, random people at the park do comment on how well he kicks the ball. Here are a few action shots from last year.

Now that he is 3, I decided he was ready for a soccer class of sorts. I found a place that came highly recommended and they offered early evening indoor classes for 3 year olds. D and I have been talking to LB about it for a while and he was so excited that this was an activity he could do with his dad. He knows that D played soccer as a kid and LB is all about being "same as Daddy." The day finally arrived and LB was ready ALL DAY. I kept having to tell him that it was after nap and we had to wait for Daddy to get home. The excitement didn't end once we were on our way. I wish I had a dollar for every time he asked, "Is this it?"

There was another class finishing up when we got there so he had to wait a few minutes before he could get on the field. Do you love the look on his face as much as I do? The anticipation was building!

D went out on the field with him in the beginning. We weren't sure what to expect but I think the coach did a pretty good job of keeping a group of active 3 year olds organized. He gathered them up to learn all their names and to give them some instruction. Then they all went to the center of the field and he led them in some stretches and exercises. He had them practicing headers with balloons, running in circles around orange cones and they got some free time just to run around and kick a bunch of balls. For the most part it was constant movement for 45 minutes. Just what this mom wanted! D and I both tried to snap a few photos during class but it was tough due to the constant movement and the safety netting they have up around the field.

You get the idea. It was a nice place but I was bummed there wasn't a little more diversity in the class. However, given the location it wasn't that shocking. This is something I always have running through my mind. We'll have do better if he decides he wants to continue playing soccer. The other unfortunate thing was at the end of class LB was part of a pile on collision and he was at the bottom. He didn't cry and didn't get hurt but he was stunned and it soured him a bit. He told our neighbors, "No me like soccer class. Those kids falled on me." But other than that he truly did have a blast and just yesterday was talking to D about going back to play. After class I have never seen him drink so much water so quickly.

LB and I have done several classes and activities together but there was something special about signing him up for soccer. I think it is just one of those things that I thought about in the years leading up to becoming a mom. I love watching soccer. I love soccer players. My sister claimed the other day that she thinks I have an internal radar for scoping out cute soccer players. So let's face it, I've always wanted to be a soccer mom. It sounds corny and cliched but, for me, it's true. I know that even though LB has a good kick now, that soccer may not be what he wants to do as he gets older. I may end up being a band mom or a baseball mom or a mathlete mom. Who knows? In the end, it doesn't matter. For now I am just loving the time to stand on the side line and cheer for my boy. The boy that I longed for what felt like forever. These are the moments that make me feel like the luckiest person on the planet. So for the next 10 weeks I am going to enjoy it. Every. Single. Moment.