A Champion To Us
It was a long weekend but The Girl and her teammates brought home some iron (i.e. a trophy) from their soccer tournament this weekend. They were runner-up in thier age division in one of the most prestigious spring tournaments! The other team made fewer mistakes which is often the deciding factor when two evenly matched teams meet. They were disappointed that they only got second; but, to be playing on Monday in a Memorial Day weekend soccer tournament is huge. For some reason, this weekend is when all of the “big” tournaments that draw teams from different regions of the country and other parts of the world are. They even marched them out at the beginning of the game like they do in the World Cup.
The Girl was very active throughout the tournament and especially in the final game and drew a lot of fouls. That gave her team a lot of good chances; but it also means she’s very sore from being fouled so much. Soccer is a contact sport. And, the referees really let the older kids play. She gets made when she gets knocked down; but she initiates a lot of contact herself. I’m sure players on both sides wish they had another day off from school to rest and recuperate. Except for taking a shower and waking up to eat a late afternoon snack, The Girl has been sleeping the entire time since we have been home.
We know from our experience with The Boy that these days won’t last forever. We really enjoy watching The Girl play. The weather was good and we got a lot of sun sitting out at the games. So, even though the final game didn’t turn out as we would have liked, it was still the best of times.
I think what matters is time spent with your kids. It doesn’t matter she only got second place. It was good you were together doing what she loves.
Kate: We never miss a game and we wouldn’t have it any other way. Sometimes, she does amazing things (like score on a full volley off a corner kick). And sometimes she doesn’t. But we always enjoy watching her play no matter what she does. Years from now we will look back upon these days and wonder how they went by so fast.
Congrats to The Girl and her teammates. We had that experience a few years ago with CB. His travel team went down to Florida and finished second in a pretty big tournament. In fact, they beat a team in the semi-finals that was one of the best on the East Coast. It was sweet! LP heads off for a big summer tournament herself in July. Hopefully her team will do better than last year. They didn’t win a game and were beat by 10+ each game. Hard to get recruited when your team is that bad! YIKES! Congrats again to the Girl and to her proud parents as well!
Mr. Manic Depressive: The Girl’s been to Florida few times with not so good results. Most of the teams from the south have been outside practicing for months while teams from the north have been inside (or bundled up outside all winter). So we know how big of an accomplishment that was for CB. Florida tournaments are tough! Good luck to LP in July.
Congrats on the trophy! You must be so proud!!!!
Rage: Yes I am. She’s a good player so she’s got a LOT of trophies on the mantle in the family room; but there is always space for one more. Just as it did for the boy, her days of winning trophies will soon be coming to an end.
Congrats to her for her effort in helping her team being back a trophy! Watching our kids succeed at something they love is one of the best ways to spend time! No doubt it is limited and enjoy every bit while you can!
Viemoira: What I like most about The Girl’s trophies for soccer is that she earned them. She wasn’t just a player who was there and got an award as a result. She really helped her team achieve. And, besides doing well in the big tournament, they are also league champions!
It’s always a delight when one of our kids do something good. We take pride in what they have done – that they have had the perseverance, focus, guts, whatever to succeed at what they want. Congratulations. I have had to work against the conviction all my life that my father really didn’t care what happened to me. He was a distant, aloof man who I now realize was incapable of expressing any feelings (other than anger) towards my sister and I. That’s a living hell – we still bear the emotional scars of it. It’s good to see that neither of your children will have that problem. Wonderful.
yondan
Yondan: I was a three sport letterman in high school and my father came to two football games, one wresting match and no track meets in 4 years (12 sports seasons) of competition so I know how that goes. I would have loved it if he had come out and supported me, rather than looking upon my activities as a nuisance to be endured. That’s a feeling that I would NEVER inflict upon our kids.
I would have been happy if he’d even thought I was a nuisance. I withdrew into studies but my sister goaded him into anger. Neither of us has let ourselves treat our children this way.
yondan
Yondan: For me, the most painful thing was that he did support my sister. It was only my brother and I who were ignored. I’ve mostly gotten beyond it; but we still don’t have “typical” father/son relationship.