Dear 'Soccer Moms', Thank you
Sacrifices. Unfortunately, sports are expensive, and club sports can be one of the most costly extra curricular activities. It not only takes money to pay for equipment, jerseys, travel, coaching, privates, etc, but also takes a time commitment that for many parents is hard to give. At the end of the day, all parents make sacrifices if their child wants to play sports. But today, we celebrate the moms; the ‘soccer moms’, whether or not they drive a new Honda minivan for eight, or a small convertible that only fits their daughter in the passenger seat.
There is this stereotypical mom who loves to be as involved in the game as possible, piling several kids into her large minivan every practice and always makes sure to bring three foldable chairs to the games incase another mom lost hers. She never forgets the Gatorade and always brings each kid their favorite flavor. She wears a t-shirt that reads “Soccer Mom” in cheap rhinestones from the last travel tournament that was out in the middle of nowhere, that, not to mention, she seemed way to excited for. She cheers excessively when anyone on the team does anything right and is the first to hand out string cheese after the game is over. If you have a mom like this appreciate everything she does for you and your team today. If you have a mom like this take the time today to appreciate everything she does for you and your team.
However, a lot of moms are quite different. They work extra shifts at work to pay for food on the table because the majority of their income is going towards your sport, they absolutely despise staying up until 10 o’clock at night to pick you up from practice, they don’t have time to go out and buy you your favorite post game snack, and at the end of each day they are exhausted; completely drained from their past 24 hours. But they get up and do it again; they cheer for you at your 6am match and comfort you when you cry after a hard practice. If you have a mom like this take the time today to appreciate everything she does for you and your team.
Some moms are hard on you, they expect 100% effort and greatness from you 24 hours a day 7 days a week, or so it seems. Sometimes you feel like they are more like a coach due to the amount of times they yell at you during the game. But at the end of the day, they support you and just want you to succeed in your sport. If you have a mom like this take the time today to appreciate everything she does for you and your team.
Today we also want to shout out all of the athletes who are mothers and did not let their family life prevent them from pursuing a career in athletics. Like anything you do, it may be hard to balance work and family but we appreciate you and the model you set for girls.
Being a ‘soccer mom’ does not mean having the most peppy energy at 5am in the middle of a field in Carpinteria or convention center in Anaheim. Being a ‘soccer mom’ does not mean you always bring the favorite snack when it is your turn. Being a ‘soccer mom’ means making countless sacrifices for your daughter to have the opportunity to play and supporting her, whether she sees it or not, through thick and thin. Today, we appreciate all of you for your hard work and all that you do for your daughters. Thank you to all the ‘soccer moms’ who never fail to amaze us.