09/21/2022
All the this. This is what it’s about. Now and in the future.
Over the weekend, I met my friends for an early morning run on a crisp Fall Saturday morning.
As I pulled into the packed parking lot, I realized that soccer season is in full swing again. The fields swarmed with little ones wearing tiny shin guards and carrying soccer balls that were bigger than their heads.
The red shirts were playing the yellow shirts on the field next to me.
The green shirts were trudging with the purple shirts to the faraway field in the distance.
The orange shirts were playing the blue shirts on the field everyone hopes for, the one closest to the bathrooms.
Parents lugged coolers of snacks and orange slices with camp chairs draped on their backs, toddlers and grandparents in tow.
As I looked at the fields, I thought to myself, "Wow, those days are almost over for us."
With a junior in high school, I only have a few more sports seasons before I'm no longer one of the parents trudging through the grass to a cross country meet.
My friend, Outsmarted Mommy by Jennifer Lizza, said to me, "Who will I be if I'm not on the fields?"
Friend, I'll tell you who you'll be:
You will be the mom who washed the grass stains out of baseball pants five of seven nights, often late at night.
You will be the parent who volunteered in the snack stand for hours on end every season, coming home smelling of French fry grease and pulled pork.
You will be the parent who attended booster club meetings and begged friends and family to buy cheesecakes, candles, and popcorn to help fund the team's efforts.
You will be the parent who sat quietly in the front seat as the agony of defeat filled the ride home.
You will the parent who bought the team ice cream when the victory was so big everyone could feel it in their toes.
You will be the parent who orchestrated the spring sports schedule with the ease of an air traffic controller.
You will be the parent who remembered sunscreen and K tape and the first aid kit.
You will be the parent dressed for the tundra and sit in spring snow for a soccer game.
You will be the parent who is convinced is melting while cursing gnats to hell in October during a cross country meet.
You will be the parent who threw chicken nuggets in the general direction of the backseat while attempting to get three kids to two different fields.
You will be the parent who purchased more sports equipment than you thought your budget would ever allow.
You will be the mom proudly wearing a "Team Mom" sweatshirt, yelling from the stands so loudly that you are hoarse the next day.
You will be the mom who hugs your kid so tightly at the end of a game or a meet, hoping they won't see the tears of pride streaming down your face.
You will be all of those things because you've done those things, year after year.
You will be the parent who gets your kid across the finish line of that last race, game, or meet.
When you hug them for that last time, they will know who their biggest cheerleader has always been. They'll see it in your eyes.
And you can remind them of that for the rest of their lives. Ahem.
