AuburnChick's Adventures

I wonder what it would be like to go through one day without drama.  Is it just me or does everyone experience this?

Today started out innocently enough.  Soccer Chick and I arose early to drive to her soccer practice…five hours away.  If you’re new to my blog, then I’ll explain that Chick plays soccer for a team that is based across the state.  That’s what you do when you play at a high level.  We travel, on average, two or three times a month for games or practices.  It’s tough, but it’s what you have to do if you want to play in college or beyond.

I told Chick that she would drive the first bit.  I thought it would be a good time to practice interstate driving.  I happily knit while keeping watch out of the corner of my eye.  She did a good job.

I took over about two hours into our journey.  Good thing or else she wouldn’t have driven me to the yarn store I planned on visiting along the way…my secret reason for starting at o’dark thirty this morning.  If you heard a sonic boom this afternoon, it was Soccer Chick uttering her displeasure when she discovered my plans.

“Mama, we don’t usually go over this bridge.  Are you sure you’re going the right way?”

“Yes, dear, we can get to our hotel this way.”

“But that’s not the way that Daddy usually goes.”

“Honey, I’ve got a map.  We’re fine.”

I cannot hide anything.  I started smiling.  She caught me.

“Mama, why are you smiling?”

“No reason, dear.”

“Mama!  We’re NOT going yarn shopping!”

“Whatever do you mean, dear?”  Another big smile.

I love being the parent.

Here’s what I got at the store…no drama here…just me pulling out the debit card…

I have to blame my friend, Rabbitrescuer, who instructed me to purchase more than two skeins of yarn.  I called her yesterday, and during our conversation told her my plans.  You know a true friend when they enable you.  Knitters are awesome people to be friends with, eh?

But this is not the drama I spoke of earlier.  That came later.

Soccer Chick and I left the store and picked up a late lunch.  At this point, I realized that Chicky had somehow gotten sick during our five hour ride.  She was so sick that she dreaded practice.

And then the bottom fell out of the sky…

She began to tell me that not only did she not want to go to practice because she didn’t feel well, but she just didn’t want to go to practice period.  She didn’t want to play with the team anymore.

While she was talking, I knit…and knit…and knit.

Thank goodness for knitting.  The repetitiveness of it is very soothing.  Especially when your child tells you that they want to turn your world upside down.

I asked questions while I knit, trying to gauge if this was related to PMS or truly what she wanted.

It was.

I won’t go into the why’s, but her priorities are changing.  I think she’s trying to obtain some balance in her life.  Actually, I think she wants another coach.  I think they go hand-in-hand.

I called Mr. AuburnChick, who had stayed home to tend to Rockin’ Rooster and the pups.  He took it better than I expected.

Fortunately, Soccer Chick still wants to play soccer, but she decided that she needs to change the scenery so that she won’t hate it, if you can understand that.

That was a huge relief.  She has so much talent.  Watching her play is like listening to a musician play an instrument.  It’s beautiful.  Poetry in motion.  I get teary-eyed just trying to put this into words.  She’s solid.  She’s brave.  She’s fast.  She comes out of nowhere like a freight train and saves her team from being scored on…time and time again.

To hear her say that she almost hates the art that she has become so proficient at…it made me sad.

But at the same time I respect her so much.  It takes a lot of guts to recognize your breaking point and then stop before reaching it.

We called the coach and arranged to meet with him a few minutes before practice was to begin.  She dreaded it.

I prayed for her before we left.  I prayed that God would give her the courage to do what needed to be done.  I prayed that she would trust in His plan for her life…a plan that included even this uncomfortable conversation.

We drove to the fields and met Coach.  He took the news very poorly.  It disturbs me when I see adults react in such a way.  Youth sports are about the youth…developing skill but most importantly confidence…confidence that they will carry with them the rest of their lives.  When you destroy that, you are, essentially, pulling the rug out from under them.  His anger only served as validation that Chick had done the right thing.

Sure, this coach is a winning sort, having led his teams to State Cup championships.  However, winning is not everything. Character is.

Poor Soccer Chick.  Fighting a head cold and dealing with the emotional backlash that is sure to come from less-than-supportive former teammates.

Please pray for her.  Please pray that I will be sensitive to her needs.

Filed under: soccer | Tagged: lorna's laces, soccer, sock yarn, teenagers, trekking |