Many soccer seasons ago, J and I would sometimes cheer on his sister's kids at their "Kick and Chase" games. I thought then that it was a cute and clever name for a rec league. What I didn't think then was that "Kick and Chase" would someday be the theme of our lives now that we are the ones with four little kids. But let me tell you, the chase is on.
Truth be told, I feel like I am running after life, not planning it out as deliberately as I would like. Sure we're the ones that put most of the items on the agenda, but when the calendar says go there, we go there. And the calendar says a lot of things. Too many things at times. I think my kids for the most part truly enjoy all of the activities and sports they're involved in. I even think they would do more if I let them. But I've made a rule that they can each do only one sport, one thing musical and one social club at the same time. With four kids that adds up quick--and only three of the four have organized commitments outside of the school day right now and only one of them does all three types of things all the time. I think I'm going to have to teach Ed to drive when he's 12...oh, and buy him a car.
I have to admit I struggle with it all at times. Some weeks I am all go-getter, happy to marshall the troops, track down the equipment/uniforms/piano books, and chauffeur the kids all around town. Other weeks, I wished we lived on an island in the middle of nowhere and we didn't own a calendar. Some days I am ready for it and take it on with gusto. Some days I'll skip events that are less essential. Basically, the younger the kid, the less essential the event. I guess it's all about balance. So it's kind of apropos that on a day when there were two first soccer games (& team pictures) and one first gymnastics meet of the year (they run about 4 hours long & we took the whole gang to this one), I only have shots of S's soccer game--a first grader game where someone kicks and everyone chases.
SoSo can be pretty determined on the soccer field...he scored three times at this game
Making his way through the "tunnel" at the end of the game...
