Fall is the season in which I live at the soccer fields. Our boys play soccer (all on different teams), our two oldest sons referee lots of soccer games, plus our oldest is now helping coach our youngest son’s team. Our sixth grader plays on an additional club team which occasionally plays in tournaments. My husband coaches some of our sons’ teams, plus helps coach our local college women’s team. As much as possible, we go to support both the York College women’s and men’s games. Did you follow all of that? Don’t worry, I can’t keep up either.
I absolutely love soccer and thoroughly enjoy supporting and watching and cheering. I am a soccer mom – it’s what I do. Here is what I’ve discovered about myself:
You know you’re a soccer mom when…you’re watching your six year old’s team get thoroughly creamed. The six year olds don’t seem to care too much about getting beat. They’re just working hard and doing their best. They run. They try to get the ball. They steal it from their own teammate. They kick it the wrong way. You keep cheering. You keep encouraging. And when finally, finally a goal is scored for our team, you find that tears spring into your eyes. What, you’re crying over a six year old soccer goal? Yes, because you’re a soccer mom.
You know you’re a soccer mom when…you decide after being at soccer games for hours and hours that you will just “rest your eyes” while sitting on the bleachers during half time of the fifth game of the day. The sun is shining brilliantly on your face, the music is playing in the back ground and you’re sitting on hard bleachers. As the teams take to the field again and get ready to begin the second half of the game, you realize that you had actually fallen asleep while sitting on hard metal bleachers. And surprisingly, you feel refreshed and ready to watch more soccer.
You know you’re a soccer mom when…that aforementioned brilliantly shining sun fries your face week after week and you have crease lines in your sunburn/tan where you were squinting to look toward the field. It’s cute. And even though you continue to get sunburned week after week, you continue to carry blankets, jackets, gloves and stocking caps in the back of your mini-van because you really just never know when you’re going to need them. You also carry in your purse a nice supply of water bottles, bandaids, kleenexes, and trash – because where else are your kids supposed to put the dirty kleenexes and bandaid wrappers? And yes, you have a big purse.
You know you’re a soccer mom when…you’re on your way to church, but instead of going straight on 14th Street to get to the church building, out of habit, you turn left at Nebraska Avenue and head toward the soccer complex. You finally realize what you’ve done about a block from the complex. You feel ridiculous, but hey, it happens to the best of us. When you repeat the mistake again three days later, you really being to wonder if you’ve lost your mind.
I am, through and through, a soccer mom. Can I get you a bandaid?
deborah says
Love it! I love how every person has their story and each family has their “thing”. I love the diversity of people and how as a wife and mom, we love things we might not have ever loved if it weren’t for our husbands and children! Really, in any relationship, we learn to like or “be into” something because of someone we love. I think that’s awesome. :)
Laura says
Yes, very true! I’d never even seen a soccer game before meeting Matt – now I LOVE soccer!
Brooke says
I love it! Thanks for sharing :)
BTW: I’m guessing since you don’t have little girls, you’re bandaids don’t have Dora on them? ;)
Laura says
Ha! Nope, no Dora bandaids. :)
Lyndsay says
I have 4 boys too, and we have Dora band aids! My 3 year old loves Dora (in the small doses I can stand!) and so when it’s his turn to pick out the band aids, that is always a possibility! My kids really like the camo ones too!
Amanda says
LOL Little man isn’t old enough to play sports here but I definitely have the mommy bag. On a normal day you will find toys, fruit snacks/fruit leathers, a drink, small candy (you know, for those times when you need just a few more minutes and have a super unhappy kid), wipes, and lots of trash. I call it a mommy purse.
Kim @ Eat What You've Got says
All of those things just show that you are a wonderful mother. My son did soccer and t-ball last year and wants to do Upward Basketball in January. My husband coached t-ball and I was the dugout assistant. Next year, I think I want to watch from the stands. Getting a group fo 4 year olds to line up and wait their turn to hit was much harder than I anticipated.
Ann M says
Around this house, we know its soccer season because nothing will fit into the trunk of the van. The trunk is already stuffed with chairs, the team tent, blankets, first aid kit, and extra clothes/underwear (it’s sometimes hard for little ones to aim in porta-potties). My van also takes on that ode of sweaty shin guards that I love so much.
G'ma Neise says
Our kids never played soccer but I was always called the “soccer mom” because I was the mom that had the blankets, coats, hats in the van. And what ever else someone might need in my BIG purse. Even the coaches would tell the kids to go find me if they needed anything the coach didn;t have because she would have it in that bag of hers.
Lyndsay says
At my house, we don’t claim just one sport! Summer it’s tball and baseball (up to 6 games a week, some over an hour away!), fall it’s football, winter it’s basketball, and spring starts our busy 4H season! But I too am the one with extra clothes, blankies, juice, snacks, band aids, baby wipes, hand sanitizer, water bottles, etc. I sometimes feel like we live in our van (Especially when it’s time to clean it!) but it’s worth it to know what my boys are learning, and that they know they are important enough for us to be there for them.
Carri says
Love this Laura! Do you also have a variety of smelly, soccer socks, cleats, jerseys and shin guards lurking about in your vehicle? That’s really how I know it’s soccer season — the smell!
Laura says
YES! Actually, our entry way closet is the WORST! I opened it the other day to get my purse and almost passed out. Ugh. :)
Nancy says
This post really spoke to me. I have been a “swim mom” for 11 years and still going strong. My purse is bulging, my trunk is bulging w chairs, equipment bags, swim bags, and of course a cooler. My house and towels reek of chlorine. My husband thinks all we do is buy food when the college swimmer is back in town, but the 11 year old boy can really pack the food on too. I buy gatorade and power bars by the case, and cook ALL the time. Fortunately, or unfortunately, swimming is year round, 2 practices a day, 6 days a week…but I wouldn’t miss it for the world. Thx for putting into words my sentiments exactly. Nancy
Gayle says
I can totally relate! My husband and I met both playing for our college, and now our kids all play on different teams (and my husband and I still play separately and together). My car automatically goes to the soccer complex too : ) I actually grew up a few minutes away from the college that we went to, so we always went to all the soccer games in the fall, which is why I’ve always referred to the cool fall weather as “soccer weather”. Love it!
Oh, and I will totally tear up when my littlest guy, who is five, scores a goal, because he’s just so darn excited!
sarah says
I’ve got a soccer mom question for ya. My husband is all about our kids playing sports when they get big enough. I’m concerned about how we’re going to do family time if I’m constantly shuffling kids from one practice to another. How do you find that balance? Especially, how do you find that balance and not end up at the drive thru on the way to the game? It’s a few years away for us, and I’m already getting anxious!
Laura says
Good question! You have cause to be concerned. Sports can be consuming. We have to limit ours to one per kid per season. Nothing during the holidays. Dinners and getting homework done are tough. I don’t have it down enough to give out advice. I’d love to hear what Laura does. I can understand homeschooling allowing some flexibility, but dinner…how do you do dinner?
Blythe says
Love it! My husband always played soccer and all his brothers. We just had a boy and he can’t wait to be a coach in the future.
Laura says
Cracks me up! I’m a baseball mom. Recently a friend needed an ice pack. I told her I’ll go to the car and get one. With a concerned voice she asked if I always keep ice packs in the car. Yup, always! It’s been years since I’ve NOT kept an ice pack in the car or a band-aid in my wallet. I guess that’s just how we sports mom roll! It’s nice to hear it is somewhat normal.
Janeen - triplet Mom says
LOL!! I’ve done the same thing on 14th St! But instead, I’ll go to NAPA instead of going to church (YEFC), or I’ll go to Emmanuel (to get the girls from school) instead of going to NAPA! I think our minds are just to full of STUFF!
PJ says
Oh my word…this post is my family right now! I have an 11 year old in volleyball and an 8 year old in soccer. Thankfully, God knew I couldn’t handle running around like a crazy mom all week long and put both practices/games on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Yes, I am crazy those days, but I have Monday, Wednesdays, and most Fridays to recover. It’s fun though, isn’t it?
Ami says
I’m not a soccor mom, but my purse does have to be shaped properly and big enough to hold 1 – 4 water bottles. Water bottles are heavy.
Courtney says
I’m not a soccer mom, but I am a softball/basketball/volleyball/swim/track & field mom. I pretty much have a permanent case of bleacher butt :)