This pretty much sums up my life…

From mid-January to mid-December, our family life is pretty much wrapped up in soccer!  Hmm… that’s ALL YEAR LONG!!!

Now, if you are sensing my excitement and thrill and happiness about being a soccer mom… you are right!  If you are sensing the overwhelm and fatigue and wishful thinking that there might be something else out there… you are right again!

Three of our four children play competitive soccer.  My husband played soccer in high school and was pretty darn good at it.  When we started having kids, we decided that we’d let them choose what filled their buckets.  Well, who would’ve guessed… it runs in our genes… soccer it is!  We have practices 5 days a week and games 3 days a week.  Yep, that’s more days than exist in a week!  Go figure.  We make more out of less.

This is the way I survive in soccer season…

1. Keep a written schedule!  I need it visual.  It could totally be done on my iPhone, but there is something about seeing my whole month in front of me, that relaxes me and keeps me focused.
2. Keep the car stocked!  Make sure the car is always full of chairs, blankets, umbrellas, jackets, sandals (or mandals, as my son likes to call them), phone chargers and plenty of water and snacks.  It’s basically an extension of home.
3. Sleep!  Well, this one is imagined in my world.  Hoped for, though… hey, a girl can dream!  Well, not technically is she doesn’t sleep.
4. Positive attitude!  It’s ok.  This too shall pass.  They are only little once.  I can sleep next week.  When the house is messy and the homework isn’t done, I just grit my teeth, smile and push forward.  And we do get the homework done, just sometimes at 10:00 at night.
5. Essential Oils!  I don’t go anywhere without these and neither do my kids.  They are in the car, in my purse and in each of their soccer bags.  Then I’m Dr. Mom.  I can help the occasional sore muscle, stomach ache, headache, sunburn or case of nerves with the power of these cute, little vials.  My fellow soccer moms call me Mary Poppins… I’ve got everything one would need in my bag.  Trust me… you can’t like without them!!!

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When I have a minute (the few weeks between soccer seasons), I always look back grateful for the experience and memories.  And as for my oldest (the non-soccer player), I am simply teaching her what it looks like to be a soccer mom.  She’ll be there herself someday soon.  I love my family.  I love taking care of them.  I love cheering them on.  I love that this is my world.  And that pretty much sums up my life!