Dear email sender,
My moral compass must be inscribed with the quote "moderation in all things". Not sure when it was tattooed so permanently in my soul, but it remains as prominent today as it ever has been. I would like to teach my children this motto too.
In writing that, I realize I might be kidding myself when it comes to sugar- old habits die hard. But that is a story for another day.
So it goes without saying that it stresses me out beyond belief that I will receive up to 20+ emails a week (sometimes 5 in a day!) about Aspen's soccer. Besides her weekly schedule, which is a must get, my mailbox is bombarded with a myriad of updates:
"Watch what this 10 year old in Ohio can do!"
"Watch famous So-and-So do this maneuver".
"Go out and try this maneuver like famous So-and-So".
"Watch Real Salt Lake on this channel tonight".
"All players must watch this friendly. It's on at 10pm".
"Scratch that. Parents please record this friendly, let your children go to bed, then watch the friendly with them tomorrow after school".
"Hour and a half practice tomorrow after school in BFE!"
"Watch 'How to block a goal with Hope Solo', then go out and practice".
"Pay us this much money for winter field rental fees".
"Plan to practice this day, at this time. Sorry we are changing dates and times and letting you know only one day prior, but you must not miss. If you do, notify Coach **** either by email or text".
"Parents, here is advice on how not to act like a lunatic on the sidelines- of course we need you to sign this waver that you agree not to act like a lunatic". Seriously?
"Practice has switched to this field today". Hope you get this email before you actually make it to the first field and find no one present.
"Tryouts are two months from now".
"Please mark your spring calendars for games". - Never mind that they will likely change. Buy some whiteout.
"Everyone please remember to wear your practice jersey to practice". -Duh, you sure?
"isoccer is the most important thing your children will ever be apart of. Here is why .............................................................................".
"Do isoccer everyday- even if you have no clue what isoccer is".
"isoccer only takes 5 minutes to figure out. Parent's sit down with your kids and get this started"
"Is your child practicing their isoccer assignments?".
"Here's your newest isoccer assignment". -Do it or die reading all these isoccer notifications.
"Parent's your child's soccer success depends on you. Get out and play for an hour everyday with your child". They don't need to eat, you don't need to cook or teach them to pick up after themselves, do homework or be successful in any other area of their lives so long as they practice soccer with you EVERY DAY! Never mind that you might have any other children to pay some attention too".
"Here's a tournament. There's a tournament. Anyone want to join a tournament? It will only cost an arm and a leg."
"Everybody needs to pay their fees by tomorrow at 8:00am. Drop it off to me. I will only be at one location, 20 miles away from any civilization".
"Watch Coach G*** on the Park City Channel talking about I******* Soccer Club!" - Not that we don't see him enough as it is.
"Goal Keeper Training with M*** this Wed and Sat".
"Please don't stress about ensuring your child make every training opportunity we are offering this week, but remember the only thing that comes between a child and their success is an unsupportive (are you feeling heavily guilted yet?) parent.
The list could go on and on and on and on and on, quite like this sentence.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm trying to raise a child here, not a ten year old Olympic athlete. Or am I?
Can't we all just play soccer, learn and have fun doing it?
What happened to playing sports in the season thereof? Or is that strictly for eating fruit? Either way, I wish it were both.
I love being supportive and watching my soccer girl work her stuff, but good golly, talk about burn out before the season even begins.
Oh wait, did the season ever end?
So confused.
In the words of Adele "I don't want this in my world".
Signed,
a simple, "moderation in all things", trying to be the best she can, Mother.
I am totally with you on this. Gabe chose not to play soccer this year, and I'm not sorry. It is too hard on us all. Too bad, it is a fun game. But somebody ruined it for us.
ReplyDeleteDana loved playing soccer for Mick last year but this year I didn't even give her the option. Last year we were at 5 soccer related events a week. Luckily only for 6 weeks it so but it was a still a LOT. There are other things my kids need to learn so soccer is out. The time my kids spend not playing soccer can be better spent just being a kid.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jen, for the needed rant about soccer extremists in UT and elsewhere. I have a friend who just left ID and was shocked to find her kids can't register to play soccer because they didn't play in the fall when teams were formed. Even told to reconsider registering because the skill level of most kids who play is just so exceptional. Our league here is mild mannered and fun thus far but I have noticed the really competitive parents group their future Olympians to certain coaches. My kids who are out just to have fun get creamed 13-0. I also have a child who wants to swim so badly, but after taking her to one practice and learning of the great expectations, I cannot commit her to that part-time job. It's a real disappointment that we can't have sports opportunities for kids that just teach fun skills and a healthy habit of exercise.
ReplyDeleteAmen, to all of you.
ReplyDelete