“Harlan gets control of the ball. Here she goes. She shoots. She scores!!!!”
I sat outside on our back porch yesterday while I watched Harlan play in the backyard. We were the only two in the house that were up and everyone else took their Sunday afternoon to partake in a nap. This time of year, we take advantage of nearly every second we can be outside, so when we saw a break in the rain yesterday, we ventured into the backyard.
Harlan immediately took her soccer ball and set up a goal for herself so that she could practice her skills. She gave a recap of the play-by-play as she played in the backyard. With no opponent, she won the game very quickly.
She started playing at the beginning of Spring for a league in town and got bit by the bug quickly. All she talks about is soccer. She wants to watch it on television, play it in the backyard, asks when the next season starts. She loves the sport.
Growing up, I was always the athletic one in my family. Tennis was my sport and I wanted to play it often. The spark that I had in my eyes for the 15 years that I played tennis, I see in Harlan’s eyes too.
Each game that we watched Harlan play, her confidence in both her skills and the sport became more and more evident. She was making friends on the team and loved being able to see them twice a week. Once a girl that merely ran on the sidelines after the ball, was now the girl running down the field dribbling the ball between her feet and getting hat tricks at the games.
Her cheering squad sat on the sidelines every single game and cheered her on.
She smiled shyly as we cheered loudly and chanted her name.
I never thought I’d be a soccer mom. Maybe a gymnastics mom or a ballet mom as those were the activities that Harlan always expressed interest in. But after watching her enthusiasm for a sport that took her by surprise, I’ve come to realize that I will happily whatever sport mom she wants me to be.
We don’t choose the activities that our children excel at or enjoy. So whatever that may be, it’s our job to be there to support them every single way.
And I’ll always be on the sidelines to cheer you on.
