Today was a very humbling day for myself. I saw the world from a different perspective and I'm not sure if it has mad me sad, mad, or concerned for my children. Some people, actually most people that know Roby and I know would say that we are fairly competitive, okay extremely competitive people. Somehow, Noelle did not get those genes. She is in soccer season right now and she LOVES playing but she is nice. She is always careful not to kick anybody and is just to nice. Part of me wants to yell but I sit and watch her smile as she runs up and down the field.
Last week was Noelle's first soccer game of the season and unfortunately the soccer complex is a giant field with at least 8 soccer fields and Noelle plays as far away from the parking lot as you can get so I didn't go last week. Of course the week I'm not there she scored a goal and came home proud so I promised myself I wouldn't miss next weeks game no matter how hard it was for me to hop there.
So, today we got a babysitter for the little two. Noelle play at 2 and Kyle played at 2:30 and the little two were napping. I was planning on watching the whole game and then hop over to watch the second half of Kyle's game. Noelle played in the whole first half and the third quarter where she was playing as one of the three forwards. It was an odd quarter because it appeared that several of the players were confused as to what position they were suppose to be playing, the coaches were yelling, parents were yelling. I as competitive parent but not a soccer expert thought Noelle did fine. The whistle blew and the team went to the bench, moments later the players returned to the field with new positions. I was sitting in my chair next to the bleachers where 3 or 4 families from our team were sitting. One mom (I'll call her Edna) expressed her relief that the quarter was over and as they began returning to the field, a little girl (I'll call her Patty) was put into the forward position. Patty's parents seemed a little surprised that she was playing forward and commented on how tired she was going to be after the game. Then Edna turned to her and said 'I would rather have a tired Patty then what we had as forwards.'
I immediately got up, put my chair in my bag, and hopped over to Kyle's game. Noelle was sitting out for the fourth quarter and my feelings were hurt so I removed myself before I said something, even though I wanted to watch the game. I wanted to look the mom in the eye and say, that's my daughter you are talking about. However, I am 99.9% sure she was not trying to bash my daughter, I really believe she was trying to compliment Patty but it still hurt and I am a 35 year old adult.
This experience has really made me think today. It doesn't matter who you are: a parent, teacher, coach, checker at the grocery store, ref, professional athlete.....when you speak, people listen. I was not part of the conversation but I was listening and what I heard impacted me.
When we arrived home, Roby had to leave right away for a fundraiser out of town, Noelle and Kyle went outside to play with the neighbor so I put Natalie in her pack and play and gave Adam an electronic (I'm such a great mom :) so I could sit there and think and then I found comfort: Isaiah 41:10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
I'm trying to figure out if this would have bothered me as much if I wasn't so sick of having to hop, if my hands weren't calloused and sore, if I could carry a load of laundry but it really doesn't matter. As a parent, I will use every opportunity to build up the confidence of my children and their friends. I want to be the best example for my children!
9 more days of hopping!
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