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Trying to accept reality

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So I had a bunch of partial thoughts, half thoughts - or rather half assed thoughts if you will - most of which I will have forgotten or have gotten distracted by the time I end up trying to make my point.  But what the hell, let's go with it anyway.

I came to the realization that I've become a soccer mom.  I really didn't mean to be a soccer mom, and when I mention it to Mrs Rambler she actually gets a little pissed because she wants to be the soccer mom, but here I am.  And it's time for me to accept it.  Quick question, if I finally learn to accept something, does that automatically mean that I embrace it as well?  I mean can I accept but still rage against?  Is that possible?

Anyway, the little man made the travel soccer team, which has been fun but kind of interesting.  They were looking for someone to help coordinate the team to enter a tournament sometime on the Fall.  I mean, sure, what the hell - I can do that, so I volunteered.  I don't think I appreciated what the implications of that are, because then all the sudden I am out there shooting emails about halloween tournaments, what costumes might be appropriate, and whether we can get the kids to wear something pink to reflect breast cancer awareness month.  Here's the thing, I'm not a joiner - I'm the one that sits back and makes fun of how over the top people get with their kids, but then all the sudden I'm going 'well, I don't know if they'd want to wear red face paint, maybe we should go with a vampire instead?'  Seriously?  What the hell has happened to me?  And then yesterday I'm dropping the man off at practice, and one of the other mom says how she loves the pink laces the kids are wearing.  So I just respond that it wasn't really my idea, one of the other moms suggested it, and I thought it seemed like a decent idea for the kids to try to get involved in something 'bigger' (I have no idea why I put that in quotations).

And she looks at me and says, 'Oh, are you the Aimless Rambler?' (okay, she may have actually used my name) - and then we have this whole conversation about trying to get kids to try to promote something, and that it's okay for boys to wear pink, etc.  I mean it was a very pleasant conversation - but part of me wondered what the hell was going on.  How am I the one having this conversation?  Soccer mom, that's how.

Same thing happened at the game then over the weekend.  I do a lot of pacing while I'm on the sideline.  A. I don't like to sit still. B. I have a five year old who has no interest in watching his brother play soccer. And C. it's a decent place to get my step total up.

Step total?  That's right!  Striving to walk 10,000 steps a day.  I am a total dork, but I love to quantify shit, so finding out how active you are and getting competitive about it to try and do better is right up my alley.  So yes, I try to keep moving, and standing on the side of a soccer field is perfect.  And the reality is also that when my kid is not playing I really don't care what's happening out there.

So I'm walking around not really paying attention to the game last week and one of the moms and I are making more small talk and she asks 'what's with the pacing?  Are you nervous?'  Crap.  I mean obviously I seem like I'm one of those parents who gets all worked up on the sidelines at the kids soccer game.

I just have to accept these things.  It's like Man City.  Part of me still wants Man City to be that team that isn't the richest club in the world.  It's not like I've been a fan of there's nearly as long as most of the fan base, but there was something tragic but relatable about 'Typical City."  But that's not the team anymore.  These are the highest paid players in the world and almost each and every position.  Actually that's not even right.  They have two world class players at each and every position.

Still love them, but at times still struggle to accept that this isn't the team I first came to follow (even though what they put on the field is miles more entertaining than when I first started watching).

Which gets me back to the big man.  I think it's time to accept that soccer just isn't going to be his thing.  I mean don't get me wrong, I have tried to subtly infuse and brainwash him with the premier league and dominating his ass in some basement soccer, even coached him (although its odd how one can teach, but the students still manage to actually learn nothing).  So when we introduced the idea of the travel team and then he made it - I kind of though we were going to be all in on soccer.  It just isn't really happening.  I mean his skills are developing pretty well, and he seems to be enjoying it, but let's just say that I'm not going to be laying down a fifty spot that the big man will be making his US international debut   And the thing is you can see the kids who have pretty much already committed to soccer.  For whatever it's worth I don't actually know if that's a good thing or a bad thing at this age.  You see how much more into the sport they are, and how especially at this age that translates on the field.  But to be so into it at still a pretty young age - does that mean they'll actually burn out?  I do know that when the big man basically finishes with practice or a game he's done.  Never wants to play soccer.  Football, basketball - yes.  Mindcraft - hell's yes.  Soccer?  Not so much.  I've suggested that practicing at home would help some of the old skill development, but there's no interest.  TIme to just accept what we see - let's hope he has fun this year and leave it at that.

And that actually leaves me to my last little thought on this one.  Trying to accept reality of ones limitations.  So when I saw this Patrick Kane video



as great as that was, what was even better was Brandon Bollig's response.  It's classic.  Even though I think he was on the ice and actually may have given up the turnover in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup last year, this video is awesome.  It just warms my cold little heart.




We don't need you to stick handle Bollig - let's just accept what your role is on the team Bollie




This post first appeared on Awkward Sandwich, please read the originial post: here

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Trying to accept reality

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