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When I had kids I guess I didn't want them to suffer - well I can't really say I suffered, I just wanted more than my parents wanted to take responsibility for. In any case, I wanted to make sure my kids were doing something. Since the world had changed and you couldn't wander all over the neighborhood until dark without parent supervision any longer - I wanted to keep them busy. First came soccer for Ashley when she was 3. Tommy started soccer when he was 4. Cailin being a lot like me, and not one to follow a crowd wanted more. We tried dance...hated it. Every week while sitting at her sister or brothers soccer practice she would watch the Rec cheerleaders practice. That was it - she was sold. So cheer it was. Well, until we realized that rec cheerleading following the same rules as the schools do and if you birthday wasn't this, then you couldn't cheer until next year. So we were introduced into All Star Cheerleading and Cailin hasn't looked back.
Fast forward a few more years and here I am. I spend my days juggling between soccer practice, cheer, and homework. Last year it was rough with Tim overseas and I was juggling Ashley's middle school soccer schedule, her travel soccer schedule, Cailin's cheer schedule, and her competition schedule, with Tommy's soccer practices stuck somewhere in between. I would anxiously wait on the soccer schedules to see if they overlapped the cheer competitions. This year it is the same...high school soccer season runs for 3 months, compared to one month of middle school soccer. These girls travel this year all over the neighboring 4 counties with games three nights a week. Oh did I mention that the games are on the same days that Cailin has her 4 hours of cheer practice? Me being me, want to be there for them both!
People ask me all the time if I am crazy. I guess I am. But I hope that I am giving my kids what I wanted when I was their age - someone cheering for them, a friendly face to look for, a huge hug at the end of a game or competition. Is it worth it - you bet. Do I wish I was in Bora Bora sometimes with all the driving here and there and everywhere in between, you better believe it.
With all the juggling I do I try my best to make sure that I am there for practice and games because it is important to them. Am I crushed when I can't make it work - incredibly. But when I am sitting there watching Ashley score the first goal of the game and her first instinct is to look over at me smiling in the stands - well, it makes all the driving, and insanity worth it.
This weekend was Cailin's first competition of the season. She has worked so hard to accomplish so many goals - and for being 8 she has a big list of goals. When our gym didn't have enough girls to make a team for her level, she set out to be the best she can be for her team. In the process she is helping out one of the older teams so they too can be the best. For her this is heaven. Watching her walk onto that stage Saturday with her Mini Team and her huge smile was priceless. Watching her perform 10 minutes later with her Junior Team was the icing on the cake. Having both teams win 1st place - priceless! The hugs after awards were what made the 3 hr drive to Pensacola on no sleep worth every bit. "Mom, thanks for being here and watching me and cheering for me".
This is why I do what I do. I am a mom-overachiever and I am proud of it! If I keep this up Red Bull and Starbucks will never go out of business! :)
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