I have written several times about the trials and tribulations of being a soccer mom. There have been times I have been frustrated by overbearing parents and bad referees. I have gushed over my six year old daughter's first goal and lamented whether traveling all over Northern California for tournaments is a "good thing" for my ten year old. I've wondered what it all has it really taught my kids, aside from the fact that a 7-11 slurppy cures most field injuries.
This week my son surprised me. His team has struggled all season, winning some and losing some. They are good, but not good enough to win a regional tournament or so I thought. I have watched my son grow from being the youngest and most inexperienced on the team to one of the leaders and key to their success. He is confident on the field, agressive when needed and understands the "game" of soccer. This weekend we had a family trip planned to go to Disneyland with a gaggle of bloggers. Well of course, his team is headed to the soccer championships.
I think most kids would have left thier team high and dry given the choice between riding on Space Mountain and a soccer game in Manteca, CA. He chose the team. He shyly told me that while he wanted more than anything to go to the Magic Kingdom, but he thought the team would lose without him. He acknowledged he was a leader and had a responsibility to stay with the team and help them win it all. Whoa- big concepts for a lil' guy. Maybe all this driving and practice is worth all the gas money!
