Sunday, November 9, 2008

Why we make ourselves miserable

So yesterday at 6:30am - I found myself lamenting my early hour and the impending tasks of the day. I wondered why we did it. Why we found it necessary to wake three warm sleeping children and bundle them in soccer clothes and drag them out to a field to shout at them while they ran around in the frosty air and chased a ball. 

It seemed a little bit like kid torture for a second (and parent torture to boot) 

Then I remembered. 

I remembered when the little girls in their little uniforms laughed and held hands. 

I remembered when they listened to their coach and exercised their bodies and their minds.

I remembered when all the Mommies and Daddies sitting in our little folding camp chairs that we carry with us everywhere laughed and shared stories as we drank our coffee and watched what was most important to us. 

I remembered when we cheered and they smiled and raised their little arms in victory. 

I remembered when the whole team came back to our house and we lit a fire and I made up a double batch of pancakes and everyone chipped in to help. 

I remembered when the little girls laughed and ran upstairs as the Mommies and Daddies sat together downstairs and talked. We talked of hobbies and babies and jobs and life and the pta and life in general. We talked of holidays and funny things. 

I remembered why we make ourselves miserable and I was so grateful. 

Then we rested - and we got to do it all over again for the 7:00pm U7 game. 

and I remembered again. 

112 comments:

Queenie Jeannie said...

A wonderful reminder - thank you!

Happy Campers said...

Just beautiful....you are one heck of a Mama!

Grand Pooba said...

What a great post! I want to be a soccer mom one day! I played soccer when I was younger and your post brought back all the fun memories! I remember those EARLY and FREEZING morning games, but it was always worth it!

Lilly said...

That was a great post. Fantastic. Good reminder for us all that is the simple pleasures that we should be hainging onto. Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Aunt Julie said...

Awwwwwwww...yeah, we do it too, even if the youngest ends up in the goal making mud pies or picking dandelions! Those moments make the best photos, don't you agree? BTW, Aunt Julie's hosting another *Recipe Week* over at my place, starting today. Remember how yummy the last one was?

jori-o said...

That was awesome!! GREAT post! Thanks so mcuh for stopping by today!

Kristen Andrews said...

great post and sometimes we just need reminders

Live.Love.Eat said...

Hah! That was awesome!!!!!!! We're not there yet with our 5yo. We're giving him some time to decide what he wants to do for fun on a team.

Just Lisa said...

I can't wait to be a soccer mom!

Kim said...

So true! I cannot wait until my son is old enough for me to enroll him in sports! I am so excited for all of it. Well maybe not the waking up early for games part...

Laura said...

beautiful...my first comment got lost :( so I reposted :)

MrsM said...

True...and very sweet.

Mrs. Jelly Belly said...

Beautiful!

The Rambler said...

Great post!!!

And big congrats on being the FB today at SITS :)

Mimi said...

Great post!

Green Girl said...

oh, the joys of being a parent, i am soooo excited to experience them! =)

Charmaine said...

How sweet!

Katy said...

Wow, great! Thank you!

Anonymous said...

What a nice memory!

Anonymous said...

Funny how parenthood makes you do crazy things...and lose sleep. Precious, precious sleep.

And,yes, totally worth it!

Anonymous said...

Parenthood is so funny sometimes.

Anonymous said...

I'm getting ready to have to start doing this. I will have to come back and refer to this post when I start questioning my decision! But it will definitely be worth it to see my little guy have so much fun!

Cyn said...

Excellent post. Well said! :)

Astrid in Bristling Acres said...

Very sweet post! So far I haven't gotten to enjoy getting up early & watching my girls play games out in the cold...but I bet it won't be long now!
Happy SITS day!

Sapphire said...

That was sweet and all, but couldn't they do the same thing (and the mommies and daddies too) at a decent hour?
Just saying!!!

Pam said...

What a great way to look at that. Accentuate the positive and all that. Great post!

Sandy said...

What an excellent reminder!

Tiffany @ Eat at Home said...

Excellent post! I just did something similar for U14 game yesterday. Congrats on your SITS day.

Becky said...

This is beautiful. Sometimes it's hard to remember these things.

Jennifer Juniper said...

I will have to print this out in case it doesn't come to mind next time I"m up at 7 am for soccer! Happy sits day :)

Cat Russell said...

Have a great SITS day..

Heather said...

What a great post! You are absolutely right. What starts out as a sacrifice of our "sleeping-in" and lazy weekend mornings, ends up turning into moments that we would have regretted missing.

Have a great SITS day!

Unknown said...

beautiful reminder! Congrats on your SITS day.

glenna said...

Wonderful post! glad i found you through sits

said...

You make mincemeat of the downside of early morning games!

tammy said...

Ugh... I think I would have a hard time with 7 am games. (Course, we did it all when my boys were little. Now my daughter has no desire...so, I get to sleep on the weekends!!LOL) Great spin on the whole situation. Keep remembering.

BloggessJ said...

Great post. Have an AWESOME SITS day!

Anonymous said...

My boys are older now, but I remember back when I did those things. I'm sure we'll be doing more with my husband's granddaughter when she gets a little bit older too. Thanks for the reminder and memories

Heather said...

beautiful post! happy SITS day!

Maridith said...

Oh I look forward to those day - kinda! I am not a huge soccor fan but since I am a fan of my kids I will do anything for them. I am sure I will remember this post when I am out there freezing my tail off!!

Great post!!

Creative Junkie said...

This will be our first year without soccer and I have to say, I won't miss it. Because it will be our fourth year of softball and that provides me with my weekly quota of sitting on frozen bleachers and watching my cheeks - all four of them - turn blue.

Stacy Uncorked said...

Great post - when the Princess Nagger gets older and decides she wants to do that sort of thing, I'll remember to remember... :)

Happy SITS Day!

Jenny-Jenny said...

Good Memories. Ours was baseball... it's good to remember!

Allison D said...

So true...sometimes it is worth the chill

Laura said...

There's nothing like bein a soccer mom, football mom, band mom, cheer mom...We moms love to support our kids no matter what time or how cold & rainy it is.

Taryn Zerner said...

This is a very sweet post. It is very true! Making precious memories that you will cherish forever!

Love,
Taryn

jescady.com said...

That is so sweet. Your kids will remember this forever.

Cher said...

oh...how nice! It's all worth it in the end...great post!

Rachel said...

7am? Oh my! There are many times in the 90 degree weather, when I have to remind myself exactly why I signed him up for t-ball again!

Jennifer said...

Wow!! That is beautiful! You know... I don't have kids yet but sometimes I wonder why I want any... THIS POST made me realize why I want them :) thank you!

Rhiannon Bosse said...

As a former athlete (nationally and in the NCAA) I totally relate to this post! The tears, pain, early mornings, frustrations, etc. Are ALL worth it in the end! Great job on this post :) Very poetic.

Anonymous said...

Well put. That is exactly why we do it!

Ali said...

My sentiments exactly! My son says he doesn't want to play baseball again next year and although I respect his wishes, it makes me a little sad:(

Rita Barakat said...

Great post, so true!

Your Best Friend said...

Great post. I've been that mom many mornings myself. And since I have teenagers I also get to do it in the evenings until past all of our bedtimes as well. Oh the joys of being a soccer mom.

Michelle said...

We don't really do any organized sports...but I love the way you wrote this!

Rachel said...

What a touching post...especially since I'm a new soccer Mom!

Betsy Eves @JavaCupcake said...

Awwww :) This was sweet!

Happy SITS day!

Mimi Head said...

Wonderful! I miss the days when my girls were young.

Stereos and Souffles said...

So sweet!

Carey-Life in the Carpool Lane said...

Wonderful post about kids, about parents, about what's important...very sweet!

Lissa K said...

That's why we sat through so many Little League games, and then basketball and volleyball games ...Great Post!!!!

Someday I'll need to remember this when my grandbabies get older too...

Mama Nut said...

That was beautiful. Loved this post! You are so insightful. Happy SITS day to you!

Delectable Dining said...

I love this poem-- what a perfect reminder of why we do what we do!

Anonymous said...

Happy SITS day!

Great perspective on the everyday occurances in life!
Wishing you a great one...

Mariel said...

well said! great post!

Mariel

Anonymous said...

So true! It is all worth it even if we forget for a short while.

Eve said...

Haha... well said!

christy rose said...

Rememeber the great moments! Forget the bad moments! Makes savoring today's moments so much easier!

Thanks for the reminder!

Patricia said...

thanks for the reminder...

Anonymous said...

Great story...you have a way with words!

Heather said...

Makes me very excited for when my kids are old enough to do that stuff!

Lisa said...

Sweet post.

Alex the Girl said...

I"m prepping mine for sure. Statistics have shown that girls that are activily involved in sports have lower risks at teen pregnancy.

Unknown said...

Love this! Our kids aren't in soccer yet but I will keep this in the back of my head for that one day when I'm complaining about doing it. :)

Days of Whine & Noses said...

I used to wonder the same thing when my oldest was in cheerleading...drving farther than we wanted to go to most games and sitting in the terrible desert heat!

How she's had enough of those activities but I have a 3 year old that I have to start all over again with!

Vickie said...

This is a sweet post. You are very creative in your writing:)

Carma Sez said...

well said..

Willo said...

That's a reminder we all need.

Marrdy said...

Thanks for sharing. Enjoy them while they are little...someday they turn into teenagers.

Tara said...

I ♥ being a soccer mom....

shortmama said...

What a great way of looking at it! Make it all much more bareable

Unknown said...

Cute post, I can't wait for those days when my little one is a lil older... I think. Great post :)

Cat said...

I like this :) I makes me want to be more thoughtful when I am throwing my boys into the car and off to do some activity.

Unknown said...

I have 3 children, 2 that are teens and play travel sports, so I've been doing this for a bit, and like you, it doesn't take me long to remember why we are out there early and late, hot and cold, cheering, supporting, and loving our kids and the things they love!
Stopping by from SITS, and I'm enjoying your blog.

Alison said...

You are making some great memories on the sidelines.

delilah s. dawson said...

I have a feeling we'll be joining in your misery/victory in a few years... happy SITS day!

Amy said...

Something I look forward to.

Anonymous said...

So that's why.

Good to know. :)

Leslie said...

Been there, done that! Only with my boy. Those were the good ol' days. Enjoy!

{amy k.} said...

Congrats on being featured at SITS! :) great post!

jubilee said...

Oh, yeah. Now I remember too.

Great reminder.

Susan said...

What a sweet reminder.

Tabitha Blue said...

Aww, that is awesome.... sounds tiring, but well worth it! :)

abroadermark said...

Coming from someone who is totally clueless when it comes to all things sports related, I still don't get it. ; )

The post is a very sweet one though. Thanks for sharing.

Jeannie Finelli, RN said...

Thanks for sharing & happy SITS day!

Unknown said...

So cute and a wonderful post You are a great mom!!

Preston said...

Awesome and happy sits day!

Southern Rose said...

Hope you had a wonderful SITS day- I'm signing in just under the wire. I love to watch my kids play anything - and I know what you mean about the death hour wake-ups!

www.southernrose.wordpress.com

Jessica said...

Awesome - a good attitude and a cushy seat is all any of us need.

Aubrey said...

I remember the days except ours was for football! Good times.

Evy said...

Very motivational!

Tanielle said...

I love being a soccer mom!!! Thanks for sharing!

Tammy Kling said...

This is so true! I often wonder these same things - but then I watch my kids on the field and it's all worth it!

Mandy said...

As a parent in the thick of soccer season, this reminder was certainly needed. Thanks!

Controlling My Chaos said...

That is so, so sweet. Thank you. :)

Anne said...

What a sweet post! And congratulations on being the featured blogger!

Pricousins said...

sweet! stopping by from SiTS!

Rae Ann said...

Ah, the soccer years. I am looking forward to them!

Rachael said...

What a wonderful post!

Gamma Sharon said...

Hope your SITS FB day was great!
What a great post!!! That is the way to put things in Perspective!

Michelle said...

We're in the midst of our first organized sport season... and I sometimes need that reminder. And the hope that they will someday get better ;)