End of soccer

C's soccer season officially ended on November 1st, although C's last game was on October 25th due to a conflict in our schedule. Overall I would say the season was a success. My goal was to have C learn teamwork, sportsmanship and to have fun.

Naturally teamwork and sportsmanship is an ongoing lesson, but the foundation was laid. Oddly enough, the fun objective was a little more challenging. Most practices were not enthusiastically attended; sometimes C refused to participate altogether. Game days were better, but she still often required some nudging to go out and play. Once she hit the field in a game though, she had a good time.

Just passing time.

Staying warm between turns with cousin Grace.

Keeping Grace warm, I guess : )

Her team wrapped the season with a party at Players. The kids loved their party, and I think I can safely say that the highlight of the season for C was getting a trophy!

Coach (uncle) Corey giving out the awards.

At this point I have no idea whether she'll want to play soccer again next year, but M's a pretty safe bet!

It's official

Well, I've been driving the minivan for two years, but now it's official ... I'm a soccer mom. In a way, I've been dreading this day - going to and from practices, every Saturday morning tied up with games; it marks the beginning of an era where you spend a good portion of your day in the car running around. 

All of C's cousins have played in the local soccer league, and P has been pretty adamant that he wanted C to participate when she got old enough. C agreed that she would like to play after watching some of the cousins' games last year.  And as we have gotten closer to this day, I began to appreciate the benefits - something fun that would help improve her coordination, and help her learn the basics of teamwork.

When her uncle Corey learned that she was playing this year, he requested her on his team (he's coaching) so she could play with her cousin Neo. We were pretty excited about this because we figured he'd probably let M practice with them, even though she isn't old enough to play in the games.

Ready for her first practice

The first day of soccer practice, C was totally psyched to put on her new gear and go practice. However she has a hard time with the concept that you don't just step on the field and know how to play and play well, you actually have to work at it. She is VERY easily frustrated and then she wants to just throw in the towel. After the first kid scored a goal, she was done for. No amount of persuasion, bribery or cajoling would get her back out on the field.

We had more of the same during the second and third practices. I spent more time explaining why she couldn't quit and trying to get her to participate than she spent on the field. Very frustrating indeed! Luckily, the Asst Coach Becky took her by the hand at the end of last practice and ran with her to help her get a feel for how it is played. But afterwards, C still maintained that she didn't want to play soccer any more.  I started to think that we'd have to make M a permanent sub for C for the season so at least we wouldn't have thrown our registration and uniform money away.

I've tried to work with the girls at home on some of the fundamentals (after I've observed them in practice, since I know virtually nothing about soccer), but their attention span is limited and they are usually done after a few minutes, if I've even managed to engage them at all!

Yesterday C had her first game. We were off to a dubious start when it took her nearly an hour to get dressed, and then only because the rest of us were going out the door. She bawled because she had to wear a boy shirt. I tried in vain to convince her that it wasn't a boy shirt, but a soccer shirt - and on top of that she would be wearing a jersey, the same one that everyone else was going to be wearing whether they were a girl or boy.

As soon as we got to the soccer field, the first thing she said was "You were right Mommy, we all look the same" and she perked up a bit, but still not enough to spark her desire to play. I thought for sure that she would be sulking on my lap for the entire game, but somehow Becky managed to get her out there. And you know what? She had a good time, and she played quite well for her experience level.  I was so proud of her!!!

After the game, C announced that she likes soccer after all! We'll see how that translates when we go to practice again this week.

Class dismissed

Last week marked the end of structured activities for the girls this summer as they wrapped up dance and swim classes.

I took time off work last Tuesday so I could see their last dance classes. I was a little worried because they got a new teacher at the second lesson, and she wasn't letting the parents in during class so I feared I might have used vacation time for nothing. Luckily parents were welcome for both classes. M's class is first and is an intro to dance/creative movement class. I have to say that I was a little disappointed. They did play movement games that the kids seemed to enjoy, but nothing that resembled dance. In fact there wasn't even any music until they did the hokey pokey at the end. Regardless, the kids were all adorable in their ballerina get ups.





C's class was an intro to tap and ballet. Before she started the class she was sure she wanted to be a ballerina, but then she decided it would be too hard. Eventually she started to get a hang of things so her frustration level decreased and she began to like class more. I think she remained disappointed that they didn't get any time to just let loose and dance. I was pleased with her obvious improvement in coordination. By the way, I didn't pick out her leopard print outfit. It's a hand me down from her cousin and has been in C's "dress up" clothes box along with several other dance outfits. She begged to wear it for her final day.




C had a hard time keeping her hands out of her hair in this class. I think it is because she had it in braids the night before and she feels so beautiful when she has the waves in her hair - just like her sister! Here's the braids for bedtime.



I didn't take any photos of the girls in their swimming classes. M passed her second class and her teacher said she was amazing. By the end of four weeks of swimming, M was ready to be done - even though she loves being in the water. So instead of swimming class, I'll just show you one of them playing in the pool in the backyard this summer. As usual, M is all wet and C is just barely.

Swimming lessons

The girls started their swimming lessons last week. Well, C's class is a beginning swim class. M's class is more of a getting comfortable with water series for preschoolers. I wish I could put her in the swim class too since she already quite comfortable in water, but she's not old enough yet.

I've mentioned before that C doesn't like getting splashed or getting her face wet, so I think that is why she isn't loving swimming lessons this year. (She did previously complete the three part preschooler water series.) When we get to the pool she doesn't want to go with her teacher, and then once she is with the class she seems to do the bare minimum in the water. Today her aunt had to take her to lessons and I've heard that she was kicked out of the pool for being disruptive. I'm sure I'll find out more today after work. Hopefully she'll be welcomed back tomorrow so she can finish her class this week. I expect that she won't be passing her class, so I'm contemplating not putting her into any more swim classes until M catches up with her. Perhaps if they're in a class together she would be more cooperative. I just don't know.

M was initially very timid in her class. I don't think it was the water so much as it was that she needed a few days to warm up to her instructors and fellow classmates. She didn't want to leave P's side the first two days, but by the time I took her to class on Wednesday she was enthusiastically participating. On Friday she was making me laugh out loud because they were taking turns jumping into the water. She'd jump in, hurry out, and then bounce and dance around in line until it was her turn again. I was quite pleased to see her so excited about her class. After class she came and stood in front of me, still bouncing and dancing and said "Mom, I HAVE to go POTTY!" So much for her display of enthusiasm. She is loving her class though, and gets excited each night when we confirm that she has swim class again the next day.