Soccer Issue Resolved

After an extremely hard week with the soccer saga, we finally realized what my daughter's issue was. She would willingly play in the games as well as practice. Where she simply would not cooperate was in the weekly soccer clinic. Why, you ask? Because it was run by men. Men with British accents who were a bit intimidating as other mom's would share their children's feedback with me, and a bit scary looking. I thought they were nice, but to a bunch of 3.5 - 4 year olds who were new to the soccer thing, they were not having it. My daughter would allow me to get her dressed for practice but the moment she realized we weren't going to Coach Liz's soccer game, all bets were off. She refused to hit the soccer field once she saw the men. This would frustrate me because it's a lot of hard work waking a child from a nap after school, getting her dressed while she's practically still sleeping only for her to refuse to participate. Not to mention I have a 22 month old who wants to run and play while I'm visibly frustrated with his sister.

My daughter has always had a thing with men to where she wouldn't look at them, and wouldn't speak with them ever since she was a tot. We have a few friends who wear locks and she won't look at them. She better get used to it because one is her brother's Godfather. She has always been very gender specific when it comes to things like boys play hockey but girls can only ice skate. My husband and I have yoga mats in the basement lying next to one another. She noticed this and assumed the pink one was mine. I bought a pink one not because of the

color but because of the clearance price. My fave color is actually purple. She was right but I wanted to know why she thought that. She said because I'm a girl and daddy is a boy. She periodically says that only girls can go with us, when she and I go somewhere, and boys aren't allowed because they're boys. Huh? My husband's friend said that there's a word/condition for this so I'm going to chat with her and see what I can find out. I really don't want my daughter growing up thinking girls can only do girly things and vs. versa. We live in a world where women can do pretty much everything a man can do, and better in many cases. I have work to do people.

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Just because I'm married with children doesn't mean I can't have fun which is exactly what I did this weekend. Friday night included a field trip to Bloomingdales for their preview Home sale which ultimately ended up a bust, so we're back to the drawing board and will be checking out the internet for bedding. Suggestions are welcome!

Saturday included the usual early morning soccer game. I stayed home with the baby since we have banned him from future games due to disorderly conduct. I felt a little bad because I want her to see all of her family on the sideline cheering her on. Maybe we'll try to come as a family this weekend. I hear my daughter threw the ball in and got a kick in. People, we are making progress if you remember how the first game went down. Monday last week, we took her to a soccer clinic in which she showed very little interest. Partly because the clinic was taught by men, and men she didn't know. She's always been a little skeevy about men to begin with and now here is a man whose intimately close to her teaching her how to kick. After a little prodding from me I kept encouraging her to do what he asked. She was still a bit skeeved but followed directions and she got through it.

On Wednesday she had practice which also went well. I did have to tell her to stop picking with her nails while everyone is running after the ball. I got a little chuckle from the sidelines which was not my intention. While the other kids took water breaks and actually drank water, my daughter ran toward the jungle gym. I'll post a pict so you can see the temptation she faces each practice. It is a nice playground which is a great diversion for my son as well.

We have practice again today and Wednesday. Funny how we were told practice would be Tuesdays each week which then turned into Wednesday's with a soccer clinic weekly on Monday and/or Sunday. A bit more than what I signed up for but we'll do what we can when we can. I just don't want to wear her, or me, out with all these practices during the week. It's just a game, right?