I know, I'm pretty competitive. I always try my best in any competition and I'm known to be a bit passionate. So I became one of those soccer mom's yelling down the side line shouting," Turn it around!, get that ball!, come on defense/offense, etc" and I'm yelling at commands to E. Unfortunately, Bill is just like me so him and I are yelling and cheering and really getting in to the game. However , Bill gets really frustrated because he has a full understanding of the game and these are still 7 and 8 years old girls. So sometimes he's giving E help that is beyond her level.
E's team won all their games except tied one during the season. So at the tournament, Bill and I were crazy because we knew they had the potential to win it all. Every time E came out, we'd be huddled around her "coaching" her. We were a bit intense. When I reflect back, we were totally those crazy soccer parents. Our pushing did make E a better player though. She persevered through our scrutiny and instruction but at the finals, she was showing signs of exhaustion. They played 4 30 minute games to get to the championships. And when Bill blamed her for the other team scoring because she was at the wrong part of the field, she started crying. She went back in and she was tough and made sure no one went by her. It was a great learning experience for her and for us. Bill and I can Never coach a soccer team. We are too intense.
During the course of the season, E showed much promise and I was thinking do I start investing in soccer for her. Get her in to indoor soccer, camps, and clinics to prepare for her future in soccer. I see parents missing Sunday worship to travel all over the place when they are involved with travel soccer. Intramural is good but to keep up with the competition out there doing travel soccer would benefit her so much. I struggled a bit on this matter and I decided to let travel soccer program go for now until E shows a great desire for it.
How much I need wisdom... Need to balance and never let go my focus... I need to be kingdom minded. As a parent you want to provide so many opportunities for success for your children. I know I spend a bit too much on their extracurricular activities but it's so hard not to when it'll help in their success in the future in the world. But how much time do I invest in their spiritual future? hmmm... need to think upon that more...
