Not a Soccer Mom
I have three children that I absolutely adore. They brighten my days, they make me laugh, and they make me tear up when I think about how much I love them. They blow my mind with the interesting and insightful things they say, and stun me with their creativity and ideas.
My oldest just turned nine, so I've been at this mother thing for nearly a decade now. (My other two are 7 and 4.) Unlike some mothers, who love the cuddly stage and wish their children would never grow out of being cute babies (with dirty diapers, spit-ups, and late night forays), I've really enjoyed and promoted my children's growing independence. (No poopy diapers, no more gak-rags, 8 hours of sleep every night...and the return of an awesome sex life! Yippee!!!!)
I still get the hugs and cuddles, as much as we each want, and the kisses goodnight, and the curling up to read stories, but along with it has come the independence of self-dressing, self-feeding, and self-cleaning-up-their-rooms...along with some chores, even! Plus we have great conversations, full of humor and debate.
However. There is one part I really hate about being the mom of grade school children.
I hate sitting through soccer practices, baseball games, fencing lessons, school music programs, school picnics and curriculum nights, and scouting events.
It's nothing against my children and their skills at music/sports/camping/crafts/whatnot. It's my personality. I mean, I hate to be sitting doing nothing but watching. It's boring! Okay? It's boring.
Even if it's my own kid. Doesn't mean I don't love them, it just means I'm still a bit Type A. More than a bit, I guess.
I hate being bored so much that I didn't go to either of my college commencement ceremonies. I only knew for sure I'd graduated when I received my diplomas in the mail. I would have skipped my high school graduation if I could have!
Does this make me a bad mom? That I try and skip as many games and practices as I can? My children don't seem to mind--particularly since my husband is often involved as coach, or my parents or in-laws attend the games. If one of my kids really wanted me to attend, I would. I usually ask, "Do you mind if I don't come?"
And if I do go, if I'm the designated parent for the event, if it's a practice, I bring something to do. A book. A notebook. A phone to return calls. Whatever. But that doesn't work at school music events or performances. Ugh.
So, tell me...am I the only anti-soccer mom out there? The only one who's completely bored at these events, and cringes when the announcements come home from school about the music program?
My oldest just turned nine, so I've been at this mother thing for nearly a decade now. (My other two are 7 and 4.) Unlike some mothers, who love the cuddly stage and wish their children would never grow out of being cute babies (with dirty diapers, spit-ups, and late night forays), I've really enjoyed and promoted my children's growing independence. (No poopy diapers, no more gak-rags, 8 hours of sleep every night...and the return of an awesome sex life! Yippee!!!!)
I still get the hugs and cuddles, as much as we each want, and the kisses goodnight, and the curling up to read stories, but along with it has come the independence of self-dressing, self-feeding, and self-cleaning-up-their-rooms...along with some chores, even! Plus we have great conversations, full of humor and debate.
However. There is one part I really hate about being the mom of grade school children.
I hate sitting through soccer practices, baseball games, fencing lessons, school music programs, school picnics and curriculum nights, and scouting events.
It's nothing against my children and their skills at music/sports/camping/crafts/whatnot. It's my personality. I mean, I hate to be sitting doing nothing but watching. It's boring! Okay? It's boring.
Even if it's my own kid. Doesn't mean I don't love them, it just means I'm still a bit Type A. More than a bit, I guess.
I hate being bored so much that I didn't go to either of my college commencement ceremonies. I only knew for sure I'd graduated when I received my diplomas in the mail. I would have skipped my high school graduation if I could have!
Does this make me a bad mom? That I try and skip as many games and practices as I can? My children don't seem to mind--particularly since my husband is often involved as coach, or my parents or in-laws attend the games. If one of my kids really wanted me to attend, I would. I usually ask, "Do you mind if I don't come?"
And if I do go, if I'm the designated parent for the event, if it's a practice, I bring something to do. A book. A notebook. A phone to return calls. Whatever. But that doesn't work at school music events or performances. Ugh.
So, tell me...am I the only anti-soccer mom out there? The only one who's completely bored at these events, and cringes when the announcements come home from school about the music program?
Colleen Gleason stepped onstage at 9/23/2005 02:32:00 PM
2 Comments:
Having three boys, I've sat through just about every sporting event there is. Here's the thing - I very rarely watched the games. Soccer games, football games - whatever - became my time to socialize and network with the other moms. I found out all about the best teachers, what classes to avoid, what kid had gotten in trouble for getting drunk etc. All the gossip - okay, yes - but all the neccessary info that kept me in the loop and made it easier to navigate my kids through school and know what was going on with their peers. These are the women who reminded me when my kid should be signing up for the PSAT and shared all their past experiences with the college application processes.
So yeah, the games are pretty boring, but the on the sidelines was where the real action is - an informal informational and mom mentoring network!
Umm, hello. Don't you have something to blog about? (hint, hint).
Post a Comment
<< Home