So you're going to be a soccer mom...

 

Today was Shaan's first soccer game.  As you can tell from the look on his face, he's a natural-born athlete.

I could tell that he was really excited that Shikhar was going to be his coach.  Despite the fact that he has been horribly ill all week, Big Daddy sucked it up and took the field with the rug rats...because he's AWESOME.

 

So, by default I guess I became "team mom".  Now I'm not going to pretend like there is much to this job...send around a sign up sheet for snacks, get the names ironed onto the jerseys, maybe an email or two...

Honestly, I think soccer at this age is more a chance for kids to get to run around outside and feel like people are EXCITED to come see them DO SOMETHING...And as a bonus we get to take pictures of how cute they look in their little uniforms so we can later use these photos in their graduation photo montage. 

For Shaan in particular, I thought this was important.  It seems that his older brother, Sonu, is always having the new experiences and eventually Shaan just gets lucky enough to tag along.  It felt nice to do something that was all about him.

 



So, how did it go?  Well, as you might imagine...a crowd of preschoolers trying to figure out which way to kick the ball.  At one point I know our team had too many kids on the field, but one was just running in circles around her dad (also on the field)...so I'm not really sure if she counted.  And the game ended as expected...called on account of too many kids crying and/ or refusing to play.  Gotta love it...it was a glorious 16 minutes.

 

And I know we aren't supposed to keep score.  But we MAY have won...thanks to the single solitary goal scored by this handsome soccer star above.  I'm just sayin'.  

 

And the coach, he's a natural.  I love watching how he goes out of his way to make sure everyone feels like they were awesome. 

And while there is still very little actual SOCCER involved in my SOCCER MOM experience I couldn't help but pause for a minute today to think about how much life has changed. 

Having actually arrived early to the field (imagine that!), we took a minute to drive by my husband's old high school (Creighton Prep) which was nearby.  The school he was attending when I met his adorable little 17 year old self.  

It doesn't seem so long ago...until you see the freshman sitting outside...and then look at us --in our mini-van, with our three cuties in car seats and baby girl on the way.  We have jobs and responsibilities...and our idea of a big Saturday is the 3 year old's soccer game. 

 

But, alas, maybe growing up isn't as lame as I once thought it was.  And...if you think about it...I got to spend at least part of my Saturday hanging out in front of Prep with four good lookin' guys that I'm pretty sure REALLY like me. 

 

And I would think even my 17 year old self would be excited about that. 



 







Gettin' Schooled.

Today I sent my baby to school.  Like real, honest to goodness school.  And while kindergarten may not be the most rigorous academic challenge he'll face in his life (his day as he described it mostly involved recess, lunch, PE, reading time, and snack...though he did have a vague recollection of French class...), it certainly represents one of the most substantial milestones in the life of this little man thus far.

 

 

And, God bless him, he was ready.  I mean, the kid is 6 years old (but acts like he's 16) and has been in preschool for four years. 

We talked about it all summer long.  What the schedule would be like, new things he could do.

We attended all the events -- the round ups, the picnics, the back to school night, the camps. 

We met the teacher, we brought in our school supplies early.  He was set. 



 

 

He woke up with a smile and said "It's my first day of school!!"  He brushed his teeth and got dressed on his own, asking for only a little help with his belt and "dress shoes".  He said that the uniform was "not so bad" (I picked my jaw up off the floor...usually asking this kid to wear anything but gym shorts results in a certified big boy tantrum).  He commented that he was pretty sure that wearing white crew socks with dress shoes and shorts looked funny.  I proudly agreed...and told him such a fashion faux pas was only acceptable at school  (can't miss an opportunity to teach such an important life lesson). 

He couldn't eat his breakfast...he was too excited.



 

 

I was 98.5% ready.  I had spent the preceding months double checking the school supply list, reviewing the uniform requirements, figuring out the logistics of the "new schedule". 

Despite my preparations, I couldn't help staring at that little square on my calendar (yes, I still use a paper day planner...) marked "first day of K" and sort of wishing it would never come.  I was excited for Noonie and I knew he would love it...but in the back of my mind I knew that after that day things would never be quite the same.  His world would be bigger.   He wouldn't fall under that toddler or preschooler category any more.  And after kindergarten, the years literally count themselves down...



 

 

But, honestly, today was awesome.  He was so eager, so full of pure excitement and happiness. 

He was not sad or scared, he was confident and ready to take on the day.

And I felt truly happy.  Sure, my eyes welled up a little...but I'm nearly 6 months pregnant...so, let's be serious - that is my response to just about everything. 

And I realized that while I had been working so hard over the past couple of months to make sure that everything would be perfect for HIM today...in the end it was Sonu who made today perfect for ME.  I was not sad or scared, I was confident and ready to take on the day. 

And, as usual, this little guy manages to give more to me than I can ever hope to give in return.



 

And the icing on the cake...sharing this experience with my best friend.  As Shikhar and I walked out of school and back to our cars we marveled at how fast time flies....that it seems like  just minutes ago he was our little chubby faced babe.  But it was fun.  One of those experiences where only the two of us knew exactly how the other was feeling.  And those are awesome moments.  

 

 

And when I came to pick Sonu up after school, little brothers in tow, he gave me a giant smile and a huge wave.  He gave his teacher a high five (apparently the check out system...which is rad) and turned to me and said,

 

"I kinda wish I could stay longer..."

 

 

So, yeah.  First day of K...we rocked it.