Brittany Koehn, Soccer Mom

Well, it is now official.  Spring soccer season started today.  And we arrived in style in our mini-van. You know what that means...Bona Fide Soccer Mom, baby!!

Yep, Chandler started his second season of soccer today.  After an excruciating start to last season, we didn't plan to sign him up again.  However, when sign-up day came, he was excited to play again because apparently he "loves soccuh".  To recap: after his very first practice last year, we all wanted to quit.  After his second practice, we all wanted to cry.  After his third practice, Momma Koehn was so angry at temper tantrums and fits on the field that I was determined to make that child finish his season.  And he did.  By the middle of the season, he was even playing part of the time...when he wasn't chasing butterflies, playing in the dirt, finding rocks, and taking 15 water breaks per quarter.  He was on the field and enjoying himself during all of the practices and about half of time during games, and was actually kind of good when he would play!  He even scored a goal in one game (for the other team).  Basically though he would just follow around the large group of kids running around the field.  (I'm not actually certain that he knew they were following the ball.  But whatever, he was out there.)  Our proudest moment of the season was his last game, which he played every single minute of...and by playing, I mean he was on the field and somewhat aware that there was a game of soccer being played around him.

Chan's first season of soccer, Fall 2011

 So, obviously I was hesitant to sign-up again.  And I was nervous about what this season might bring. I  DID NOT want a repeat of last year.  But I was pleasantly surprised at our first practice when he ran right out onto the field and started playing.  Same thing with practice #2!  When we arrived this morning,  he went out and started practicing right away.  True to form though, as soon as the other team ran onto the field, he didn't want to play.  Oddly enough, he doesn't like the "blue shirt kids", which means that he doesn't like to play soccer when they actually have opponents.  One of the problems we had last year.  Go figure.  Didn't take much to get him back out there, though.  And today, he played three whole quarters.  (Okay, I happen to know that there is photo evidence of him laying down/sitting on the opposite end of the field from all the other players...but that was just for a minute, I swear.)

Team huddle with Coach Steve (Chan is Lucky #13)

So, here is to a great season of soccer!  I am looking forward to being an official soccer mom this year.  Maybe I will even get one of those soccer van magnets with Chan's name on it...then again, maybe not.

2012 Soccer Team: The Predators (yes, Coach Steve is holding my grumpy kid)

"The rules of soccer are very simple, basically it is this:  If it moves, kick it.  

If it doesn't move, kick it until it does."
~Phil Woosnam~

Till next week friends!

Brittany :)