Today seems unreal. 

As Kenny Chesney sang it best

"don't blink ...
Just like that you're six years old and take a nap and you wake up and your 25". 

It's the truth. I can't believe that Ashley will be graduating next year. Somewhere in the crazy day to day life she went from pigtails and catching butterflies to trying to navigate where her life is gong to take her next beyond high school.

It's scary, exciting, and overwhelming at the same time. As a parent you want the best for your kid. Maybe not to make the same crappy decisions you made. But in the end it's their decision not yours.  Ugh. Something that is hard to remember and to follow at times.

Today we are visiting the first on Ashley's list of college choices. She gets a chance to meet the coaches from UWF and train with them and other coaches from colleges all over the US. What she is looking for in a college program I have no idea. I know she isn't interested in come of the larger universities such as FSU or UCF (although I think it would be pretty awesome to play for a big Div I school).  She wants a campus where she isn't going to be a number in a huge  crowd. A smaller soccer program where there aren't 10 goalies on the team all fighting for #1.  She already knows enough about that and knows how every minute in the goal is time earned.

So how did we get here?? I am still trying to figure this out. As I watched her today get direction and feedback on her skills I can only think about all those soccer coaches she has had and silently thank the ones that encouraged her when she didn't think she could. Those that told her she was good enough,  strong enough and talented enough to play on the level she wants. It's those that believed in her that has brought her though all these past 13 years.

I thank the soccer clubs in this area that gave up on girls her age because they are too difficult or cause too much drama - because of them Ashley has fought to find a team to play on. The result -  driving up to 2 hours to play for teams that want girls her age,  that need Ashley's skill as a goalie and her want & desire to play the game. 

But....

I also thank the coach that didn't believe in her - because her lack of faith in Ashley as a goalie has made her stronger and more determined to prove her wrong. When she could have taken her lack of faith and quit, Ashley has turned it into motivation to learn more, try harder and be better then she ever thought she could be.  It's because of her that Ashley practices 4 days a week. It's because of that coach we drive 1.5 hrs to practice with a team two to three times a week. It is because of that coach that Ashley walked away from today's camp with her head held high knowing 100% - that one coach in her life is wrong!! Because that I am thankful. She has made my daughter into a fighter and I know that on the soccer field and in life she will fight for what she believes in and be successful in wherever her life leads her. It's been a long road to get here but today I finally see that she isn't my little girl any longer but is growing up to be a headstrong, beautiful young lady.

I think I am OK with her almost being a senior in high school. It doesn't mean I won't cry a few tears along the way, but at least I know that she might be ready for this huge and wonderful journey she is about to begin.

More to come from the sidelines