Confessions of a reluctant soccer mom

I know my readers have gathered by now, I am all about sports. We are just a bunch of jocks in this household. Too bad about the Blue Jays losing the Grey Cup eh?

Now when I signed The Boy up for soccer, I didn't do it out of any love for the sport. Then when they asked for volunteers, I ticked off yes because I am on the board of this community group who is organizing it. So how can I not. I thought to myself, I can go "Rah rah rah... kick that ball" or whatever it is you are supposed to say at soccer games. But, well, did I mention I'm on the board and people know who I am and know that I'm unlikely to say "no" in a pinch.

"Hey Jo, so what do you need me to do?"
"Well, The Boy is on our team. We need an assistant coach, so I put you down."
"Ummm... Jo. Are you aware that I have no coaching skills and... umm... don't really know anything about soccer. It's just one ball in soccer right?"
"Oh Nat, you are so funny."
And she walked away.

So just call me coach. Now I must admit that G. (Jo's lovely man) is a great coach and he basically coached me too. G. is also in tremendous shape. (Thank god for running.) Me, well, I am good at "You, there in the blue. Yes I know blue is our team colour... please don't climb the goal post. They aren't stable and we are in the middle of a game" "No no no, please don't eat the grass." "Really that little scratch is not going to kill you." And standing on the sidelines yelling "Go ___ Go" (I leave a blank because I usually can't come up with the team name or the child's names.) But for $70 for 7 weeks. It's great fun and the kids seem to enjoy the social aspect of it. Even if the Assistant coach is clueless. (My child is the one talking Pokemon with the other team.)

But I did this for The Boy, who is not exactly a jock. I'm hoping he'll learn to like team sports a bit. And if he hates it, he doesn't have to play next year and then my coaching career will be short lived. (And that's ok.) If he likes it, then I'm fucked. I'll end up assimilated into the soccer Borg -- the motherhood equivalent of Scientology. Next it'll be soccer in the spring/hockey in winter/ football in the fall (when do they play football??) and all those sports, that involve more than a ball and a net. There goes my life as I will be guilted into every single game. After one game I am sad to report that we are leaning towards Borgland. Nooooooooo!!

I must admit, that in this neighbourhood, most parents are relatively cool. We all walk to the field, and well, it's ok that we aren't the minivan set. A few who take it a bit to seriously who are a bit overdressed for the casual league. But whatever. Perhaps I'd got a bit wrapped up in the label. I should know better. I hate labels.

Like the term Mommy Blogger. I really freaking hate it. This post makes me a mommy blogger. Sure part of Nat's Brain is a parenting blog. The Boy is a major part of my life. But, I think, calling me or anyone else a Mommy Blogger pigeons holes us for no good reason -- sometimes I talk about parenting but mostly I talk about the world and the way I see it. I am very proud of being a mom. Very proud of how the little guy is turning out (in spite of his poor choice of parents.) I am a mom but I am also a writer, a friend, a runner, music lover, a worker bee... and so much more... like how does that get captured in that label of "mommy". "Mommy is why I am in therapy... " "Mommy dearest..." Aaaaaaack.

I think there are blogs you can easily label. For instance See Nat Run, is a running blog. All running and fitness all the time. Call that a running blog I have no issue with. If all I wrote was about books, or music reviews or Wii games. Those are easy obvious labels. But this here is not a mommy blog. It's a blog that happens to be written by a mom. But it's a lot of different things too. And to label it, like most things sells us all short.

Comments

[Marcy]

I'm TOTALLY going to get you a bumper sticker that says "Soccer Mom" and all those little yellow "caution sign" dealys that say "Soccer Mom on Board" LMAO JK!!

[Selma]

Oh God, I don't want to be a Mommy Blogger, either. Months ago I wrote a piece about a friend of mine who was suffering from post-partum depression and all these people emailed me saying what a great mommy blogger I was. I immediately had to have a drink because I hate being labelled. Maybe they should label me as the Drunk Mommy Blogger, that would certainly be more appropriate. Haha.