Above is a pic of my youngest daughter and me.
My Husband, My brother in Christ
Is it really just a game?
Soccer can be exhilarating and frustrating both for the players and for... mom watching on the sidelines. Yep. I am a soccer mom and all 6 of my kids love it. It is exhilarating to watch them block goals, make goals, play hard, and love playing. It is frustrating to watch them play hard and fair while the other team plays dirty or the ref ... well, the ref MUST be blind to have not seen all those hand balls on the OTHER team, right?
Oh... to keep my mouth shut when things don't seem fair, but to shout words that encourage. This is when mom can't go out on the field and fix every disappointment. This is when I get to sit on the sidelines and see what comes out of my children when they are under pressure or when they are up against an opponent that doesn't play fair. Is it just a game? I don't think so. It is a part of life where all that you have tried to teach them about responding to both victory and defeat is exposed to the world. I know... there are other life opportunities for this. But there is something about sports that can bring out the best and the worst. It can expose genuine compassion... it can expose inappropriate anger. Are they mere competitors out to win without regard for anyone but themselves? Or are they team players willing to lose a game to allow other players a chance to play? Even in soccer... who gets the glory?
It really isn't just a game.
Here's a few clips that I thought my kids would enjoy. Maybe you will, too.
