Stacey Loscalzo

Sep 18

Why I Love Soccer (Really)

by Stacey

IMG_3317I feel like I’ve spent a lot of energy lately fighting my soccer mom status. I even got rid of my mini-van in a mini-revolt. I had always promised myself that I wouldn’t over-schedule our family but I have. The girls both want to do so many things. Dance and act and play soccer. And in today’s day and age, there really is no half hearted way to do any of these things. Seasons are long (and multi-seasonal), practices are often and rehearsals are frequent. Sometimes I want to organize and overthrow the culture of youth activities in America so that my girls can be bored and just be children. Sometimes though, it seems like it might be time to stop fighting it and start just living it.

In an attempt to do that, I have compiled a list  things I like about our activity filled lives.

  • The girls truly love all the things they are doing. They really don’t complain as we shuttle from one activity to another
  • We are all spending lots of time outside in this beautiful fall weather.
  • The girls are meeting kids from all the schools in our district and they are each making new friends. When our six elementary schools combine into only two middle schools, the girls will see so many more familiar faces than they would have without their activities.
  • I am also getting to make new friends as we share stories of our overwhelm, funny stories and recipes while standing on the sidelines.
  • The girls have an opportunity to support each other at their games. Caroline was awfully confused when she realized that after years of Katherine cheering for her, she would have to cheer this year too.
  • Because we have less time to spend together as a family in the evenings, I am more cognizant of really paying attention when we are all here. Less e-mail, Facebook and Instagram really can be a good thing (I think!).

I’m looking to grow this list… Feel free to share anything else you think I can add…

 

 

6 Comments

  1. Sarah says:

    That’s a really good attitude to have – gotta look at the positive!  How about this for another addition to your list?  Your girls are getting to try lots of activities so when they get older and decide they want to focus on one or two, they won’t regret not getting to try the other activities.

  2. Mandolin Restivo says:

    I am so worried about this stage of things! 

    • Stacey says:

      It is certainly taking some getting used to! That said, I am getting a full night’s sleep which makes everything easier than the stage you are in 🙂

  3. Tiare says:

    Those are each the perfect reason. Good on you for being positive and giving this short stage in life your very best. Your children will thank you for it someday, even if they haven’t already.

  4. Shana Norris says:

    We love soccer, too 🙂

    I hear you on the busy schedule, though.  I do think that the scheduled nights make the unscheduled nights that much sweeter.  It just get’s difficult when you have a week or two with not even one scheduled night.  

    I like your list a lot, Stacey, and will remind myself of some of these things next time I’m feeling stressed … which will probably be tonight, when I have to get one kid to soccer practice and one kid to Boy Scouts, both during the same time frame with no one to tag team with me, since my husband is taking another kid to a doctor appointment.

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