Is it luck?

Nine years ago I marched my twins out onto a soccer field and forced them to play. As is normal for my kids, they balked at the idea of new people & new places. At the time I had a 6 year old, a 2 year old and some number of foster kids. I stood on the field with Chloe during practice so she wouldn't bolt. Nine years later,  Chase is playing double the soccer & Chloe is running CC and playing soccer. And they're good. We watch soccer live, on TV and soccer balls are regularly bouncing around the house. She runs in the pouring down winter rain...for fun. She did NOT get this instinct from her mother.
On that same day, almost a decade ago, we also met some marvelous families. Families that go to different churches and different schools so even in a town as small as Auburn, I doubt we would have crossed paths without soccer. These same families have sacrificed their time and effort to coach Chase, Chloe & Kaleb for several years. And when Chloe needed a rec team to land on since she's not playing Select this year, back to them she went. She had her picture taken with them today. Some of the girls are different, some are the same but the core remains. These guys are such wonderful examples to my kids-of community, of family, of athletes. I doubt that my kids, Chloe especially, would be the soccer-loving people that they are. Hopefully, the other parts of their examples have worn off, too.
I let Tate quit soccer today. I'm not sure he really understands what that means. And maybe I'm overthinking this but are we missing the opportunity to make connections for him that will last 9 years and beyond? I sincerely hope not.
Today Chloe said "MOM I HAVE TO TELL YOU SOMETHING"
"Me and Makayla were walking to the gas station at lunch and some guy pulled up beside us in his car and said "do you guys want a cigarette?" and we said NO and then he said "they're good for you" and then we said "YOU'RE AN IDIOT" "
I'm guessing that the 16-ish boy in the car was offering the opportunity for more than a cig but Chloe just thought he was GROSS and STUPID and WHY was he talking to them when he doesn' t know them, what a JERK.
To all of the people that have drummed good habits and righteousness into the head of my Chloe - THANK YOU.  I don't think that that day 9 years ago was luck. I feel lucky to have been put on that team. Well, more specifically I feel really blessed. And just hope that the decision for Tate isn't running away from a blessing for him.

First week of school

Goodbye, Summer. With school nights, homework, back to school nights and soccer schedules here, summer is over. Even if it has been 104 for a couple of days. The first week of school has been a rough one. There have been tears. There has been anxiety. There have been complaints. There have been exhausted teenagers crashing on the couch as soon as they walk in the door. The adjustment to bedtimes and homework is still going on. At least tonight, there were no tears. Even Tate only whined instead of completely breaking down.
Chase is going to try to play Placer JV soccer & Strike soccer which will be a challenge. That is about 14 hours of soccer a week-more with games. Once he hits a routine, he'll be able to pull it off. Good coaches help with that. His synopsis of his classes before back to school night last night: Spanish is my favorite class. It is fun & my teacher is cool. English is boring. Science is OK. Health is stupid. Jake went to his classes last night and said "I am SO glad I'm not in HS. It gave me a headache just thinking about it. But the Spanish teacher seems cool and the science teacher seemed into it."
Chloe has reported: Mr Murphy is scary. And LOUD. Very, very LOUD. Did you hear how LOUD Mr Murphy is? Algebra is boring. Do you SEE the stuff we are doing? It is so easy.
Avid is stressing me out. It's just MORE work. And it's stressing me out.
I want to play soccer. Play soccer. Play soccer.
The group I'm in in Cross Country is too beginner for me. I had to wait for them for like 5 minutes today. I don't want racing shoes. I like my shoes. (you'll go faster in the racing flats) NO I LIKE MY SHOES. (geez, take it easy!)
Tanner has reported nothing. We didn't go to his classes because 2 people can't be in 3 places at once. It doesn't work. He said it was fine. Everything is fine.
Same report for all on seminary. It's fine. We just sit there. It's fine. I guess 'fine' is better than awful because they are getting up at 5 and leaving around 6 for before school church. Without complaining so far which is great! And Tanner drives them- woo hoo!!!
Kaleb hasn't had much to say about the learning part of school but he is having a great time at PE and Outdoor Adventures. There has been capture the flag & Mr. Rick is funny. Oh, and Anders gets to be there, too, which is awesome. He did have 75 math questions last night, though. That's not as fun as capture the flag. Or Anders.
And Tate. Poor little guy. "When are the kids getting home?" "What time do the kids get home?" *repeat , repeat, repeat* My personal favorite is: "What am I going to do? There is NOTHING to do. There is NOONE to play with. This is so boring." Speech class starts next week so that will be good & I think we will need to find a preschool that will work. He can't sit here all day. And I can't concentrate on work or school with him whining at my feet all day. I mean literally at my feet. Not going to work. Maybe he'll be less whiny when we get his glasses.

New rule: let's let everything settle down for 2 weeks and then see how we feel about classes, schedules, teachers, etc. It might feel like a really, really long 2 weeks. Hope we can all survive the settling in period without anxiety medications. (Except for Mom. She gets to keep her medication.)

Funniest thing from HS back to school night: I met Mr Murphy. (he is loud) He said that my parents raised some really great kids. (he's especially a fan of Dan. Football coach and all) He had this word written on the board in his classroom. "SEXTION" He said one of the students, taking notes earlier in the day, wrote that on their paper and he couldn't resist putting it up on the board. One word window into the teenage mind. Good luck, HS teachers. I think I'm glad that it's you and not me!

Soccer flashback

Today was Tate's very first soccer practice. Off we went with his little tiny cleats, little tiny shinguards/socks, little tiny ball, little tiny water bottle. Well, tiny compared to the size we're used to seeing around here. We dropped Chase off at Railhead for Placer soccer and had some time to kill before Tate's practice. Time was killed sitting in a car with the air conditioning running because tiny soccer player fell asleep 10 min after we got in the car, hand still on his World Cup edition size 3. Cute but not the best start to a new experience being awakened from slumber. After waking up we got out and headed out onto the field at Alta Vista. Nine years ago, Chase & Chloe had their very first soccer practice at Alta Vista, too. I'm sure I had a stroller for Kaleb, blankets to sit on, snacks, juice boxes, toys, etc. Today, Tate and I rolled onto the field with a chair, my phone and his stuff. I did remember a water bottle for the poor kid. As we sit, all the other Mom's and Dad's roll in with their babies, toddlers and kid equipment. And I'm thinking, when did I become the OLD Mom? Right on cue, Tate begins to cry. Why? The same reason Chase and Chloe cried at Alta Vista 9 years ago, a new experience. Yep, we don't do 'new' very well around here. My kids take a long time to adjust to new situations.
Tate: "I don't want to play soccer."
Me:   "Yes, you do. You like soccer. You just need to make new friends. Just like you did at school. You didn't know anyone there either."
Tate:   Looks at me like I'm nuts.
Practice begins. They practice dribbling, passing & shooting. Mostly, they practice following directions. Stand in line, follow the coach, put your soccer balls here.
Tate: "I don't want to practice soccer."
Me:   "You don't have to do anything. Just sit on your ball and watch what everyone else is doing."
Tate:  "Is it time to go?"
Me:    "No. You have to go listen to your coach. Chase always listens to his coach. Your coach is like your teacher but this is soccer school."
Tate: Sits on ball and watches but looks at me like I'm nuts.
Finally, they get to the shooting part.
Me: "Tate, if you want to get a turn shooting, you have to stand in line like your coach said and wait your turn."
Tate actually does this. A few minutes later...
Tate: "Mom!!! You were right!"
Me:   "About what?"
Tate:  "I made some new friends!"

Sigh of relief. Tate only took 49 minutes of a 60 minute practice to warm up to the idea. I had to be on the field with Chloe at her first practice. At least one. Maybe next practice it will only take him 39 minutes  to warm up. And Mom will remember that little people practices are all about snacks, drinks, blankets and sitting in the shade for an hour enjoying the giggles. Even when you're the old Mom.

Here we go!

I'm starting a blog. That seems self-evident. My hope is that this will help all of our friends and family that we don't get to involve in our every day circus see what it is like. My other hope is that I will have a chance to say some of the things that rattle about in my brain- even if I'm talking to myself. At least it will be out of my brain! This is a very busy season at our house. School starts on Wed. 3 in high school, 1 in middle school and then poor little Tate hanging out on his own with his Mom. The twins, Kaleb and Tate are all playing soccer, all on different teams. Chloe will also be running cross country at Placer. Just the logistics of getting everyone where they need to go is mind boggling. But, we seem to pull it off!

It is also an election year - Woo hoo! Fun for Mom and lots to talk about on her very favorite subject. I know, what a nerd! I'm sure I will be adding all kinds of links and good info on why stupid CA doesn't have a budget! (46 days late now.)

One more day without homework and bedtimes. One more day of sleeping in. Oh, wait. Nope. Chloe has to be at CC practice by 8. Guess the days of sleeping in are already over!