Football For The Perrymans

This year we signed William up for flag football.  Will is a go with the flow little guy so he was lukewarm to the idea.  Even with his tepid acceptance of playing football, Will was thrilled about playing outside with little boys his age.  He could also see that his Daddy (yes, the 32 year old who still wants to play football but has aged out of the rec league) was super excited so it helped Will get in the right spirit.  We bought the mouth guard, cleats, socks, uniform and practice jersey.  We were ready.  Then I learned that practice would be every day of the week until school started.  Wait what?

Yes that is right, every day.
Oh my gosh, what have we signed up for?
This is crazy.
I have learned more than I ever had about rushing.  I get home at 5:30.  We have to leave the house by 5:40.  In that ten minutes, everyone has get out of the car, to go to the bathroom, eat something, change clothes and get re-buckled into car seats.  Needless to say, there is a lots of noise.  Most of the noise is me yelling "GO, GO, GO, GET IN THE CAR!!"

When we get there, the calm sets in.  I put my chair down in the grass, arrange the snacks and the water balls and settle in for the1.5 hours of watching practice.  Practice is the exact opposite of the getting ready time.  It is quiet.  Time passes slowly.  The girls play aimlessly and there is nothing to accomplish.  I am shocked at myself saying this, but I actually look forward to sitting out in the grass next to the football field.

Now that school has started, we only practice twice a week and have games on Saturday morning at 8am.  We are supposed to be there at 7:15, which we never have made it on time, however it is okay.  I think the coaches understand and expect us all to come running up with our kids and chairs and waterbottles at 7:35.

Strange enough, I tear up every time Will's little team takes the field.  I love that little guy running out on the field ready to take on a game challenge.  I think of him as a tiny baby in my arms and the way Matt dreamed of the day when HIS boy could play football.  I think of all the other mommies thinking this exact same thought about their sons and I get all choked up....until I snap back to reality of Harper spilling her drink, Abby loudly requesting bubble gum 400 times in a row until I cave, and the slew of activities that I need to prepare my brain for the rest of the day.  The pride and tears are a fleeting moment but  they are worth it.  I am sure we will sign up for football again next year.