728x90
my iParenting
From Our Sponsors
e-newsletters
Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters

new terms of use
new privacy policy
award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Home › Webmother's Musings

Confessions of a First-time Soccer Mom

By Elisa Ast All

It was on a sun-dappled day in August last year that my life changed forever. With three children in tow, I arrived at a chaotic field full of excited kids kicking colorful balls toward netted goals and parents milling around trying to find their child's team. As I surveyed the scene of scattered cleats, water bottles and shin guards, I realized I had taken one more step in my evolution as a mother: I had become a soccer mom.

I had heard the term "soccer mom" before, mostly when politicians or the media discuss targeting this active demographic. But what it truly meant to be a soccer mom was something I did not know. In fact, there are lots of rules to follow, and I did a lot of "on the job" training. With my husband coaching our son's team, I managed our twin daughters' soccer schedule. And this is where my confessions begin.

Confession No. 1: I had my daughters' ears pierced three weeks prior to the start of soccer season.

This was not an intentional act of rebellion. The girls finally made up their minds that they wanted them pierced, and I had told them we would do it when they were ready. Not once did it cross my mind that it might be a problem for soccer.

The girls unknowingly got away with wearing their tiny earrings for the first game, but during the second, a referee noticed them and asked that they be removed. Oh, the trauma! You're supposed to keep new earrings in for six weeks without removing them, so I prayed nothing would happen if they were taken out for the half-hour game. The removal of the earrings resulted in several shrieks of anxiety and some tears, too. But once they were out, the girls got back into the game, played their hearts out and were happy to have them back in afterward (with no ill-effects suffered!).

Confession No. 2: I put elastic ponytail holders with plastic accessories in my daughters' hair.

Yes, I secured their ponytails with those non-tangling elastic bands adorned with small colorful doodads like hearts and flowers. Who knew they would cause a ruckus at game time? This was the third game of the season, and we were now gaining a reputation as the team rebels.

When the referee told us they couldn't play with the ponytail holders in their hair, I had to think fast because their hair needed to be tied back out of their faces. One twin volunteered the potholder yarn she was wearing around her wrist as a bracelet, so we tied her hair back with that. I whipped off the cloth stretchie I was wearing in my own hair and tied back the other twin's hair with it. Crisis averted.

Confession No. 3: I didn't know I'd like being a soccer mom so much.

I thought preparing orange and watermelon slices for two teams, lugging soccer gear and chairs and coolers and running around on Sundays from field to field watching kids at various skill levels chase after a spotted ball would become tedious. I was delighted to realize that the entire family looked forward to each Sunday. We couldn't wait to see teammates, cheer everyone on and chat with the other soccer moms and dads. Even watching the twins play their games at the same time on adjacent fields was exciting, despite the whiplash from turning our heads quickly back and forth so as not to miss a single kick from either.

It was amazing to see the kids improve from week to week. Hearing a coach say the team is "on fire!" never sounded so sweet. And now that another soccer season is upon us, I can make my final confession:

Confession No. 4: I'm really glad I'm not a first-time soccer mom any more.

There will be no more hair and earring violations. I will be more creative with my healthy snacks. I will try to find a portable chair that swivels. I will review the guidelines for play, just to make sure we've got them down.

And with less of a learning curve to achieve, I will relax and soak it all in!