Humbling Through Kid's Soccer

God is humbling me through U-6 soccer.

I played college soccer and have coached and refereed more soccer games than David Beckham has tattoos. I was not an exceptional soccer player, but I really loved it.

I even have a soccer ball tattoo on my ankle.


Ooooh, my mom is so proud. Now, let's not go judging that homeschool mom with a tattoo, GASP!!!!!! I am still a Southern Belle that loves the Lord....just have a little ink on my ankle.

Anyway...

As the Buckaroo's got to the age to play in organized leagues, we have introduced them to various sports, even though I would love to outfit them in the best soccer gear and explain to them that real football is really soccer and there is no need for basketball goals or tennis rackets. Big Buckaroo keeps me in check.

We let them choose one sport a year, we don't believe in over-scheduling. Gas prices fluctuate too much for we rural folks to be driving all over town every afternoon and it interferes in spending our days indoors teaching our first grader to split atoms and clone the cat, I love homeschool stereotypes.

We want to find what their bent is, what they are good at and what they love to do, not what every kid on the block is doing. Well, we live in a state park so there are not many kids on our block, but you get my point.

Little Buckaroo liked soccer last year and chose to play again this year. Of course, I had to be the coach because herding cats on a soccer field is my idea of party time.


We went to see one of my dearest friends who works at the city park office to sign the boys up. She got Littlest Buckaroo a jersey too because that's the way she rolls when she sees those sweet blue eyes. I jokingly told her to tell the guy in charge to stack my team please.

Oh, it got stacked alright. The majority of the teams are all boys with one girl. Lord thank you for the lesson I have received ~ Our team has 3 girls and 3 boys with 2 of the boys being half the size of all the other players. But, that has not stopped our fun!

They get to run and kick a ball, sometimes into their own goal, more often in the other teams goal. See, I am learning, I am not expecting Pele' here, I want my kids to have fun, learn the game and teamwork. O.K., I do want them to win too, let's be real here.

This is Littlest Buckaroo and Miss J, she was on our team last year and when she and Little Buckaroo see each other at games they act like long lost buddies. She is so kind and protective of Littlest Buckaroo on the field. I love how my children don't see race, age, rich, poor, good soccer player or flower picking soccer field player. They are all their best friends out there.

As we were walking off the field one night, Littlest Buckaroo asked his brother, "did we win?" Little Buckaroo said "no, they beat us 7 to 4". Littlest Buckaroo said, "oh that's alright, we'll get 'em next time". Oh the wisdom of a 3-year-old.

Jesus told us to become humble, to make ourselves like the children.

Learning from my kids (and praying they don't get a soccer ball tattoo),

The Park Wife