After a three week hiatus, the chronicles are back. Episode five left off with my Orange Monsters decimating the burgundy team that I was eagerly looking forward to playing. It had absolutely nothing to do with their athletic prowess; but everything to do with the children’s mother…in which we wound up having a nice little exchange.
As Cydney and I are getting out of the car, I see Fly Soccer Mom from a distance. We’re about two hundred feet apart and for all intents and purposes, I could be blind and not have recognized her. In the entry, I stopped to tie Cydney’s cleats. While stooped down and paying attention to my daughter’s light blue laces on her pink Umbro’s, I hear a “good morning.” I said it back and watched her walk by out of the corner of my eye. I already knew that this Saturday was about to get interesting.
Cydney and I made our way to the field. Cydney began to kick her ball around with me as Fly Soccer Mom’s youngest clamored to her. It was entertaining to see what my life was like without it being me. Fly Soccer Mom suggested to her child that she should kick the ball with Cyd…because we all as parents know that feeling of “I don’t want to be bothered and right now, you’re at a prime activity for someone else to be watching you.” Fly Soccer Mom, a few of the other parents who were funneling in, and I were all conversing about some of everything and nothing. She asked if we were playing the burgundy team today, and I replied that I didn’t think so. We went our separate ways and I told her I’d catch up with her later.
Then it was game time. We played the blue team. They only had two kids show up. I split up The Orange Monsters evenly which lead to uneven teams, so I played for a little while. For the most part, I just played a little defense, trotted around, and made passes to open teammates so that they could score. It was actually kind of fun.
One thing I am learning is that I like children that aren’t mine a little more than I thought that I did. For the longest, I wanted nothing to do with other people’s children. Hell, I barely wanted to date other single mothers. Mine are enough and stressful. However, between coaching basketball, baseball, and soccer in the past few months, I really enjoy it. I find myself looking forward to the games and practices. My relationship with my nephew and daughter is much stronger. A couple of weeks ago, I took my nephew to his school district-wide track meet; so many kids and their parents knew me from being their coach or being a coach on an opposing team.
Needless to say, this week was kind of a wash for The Orange Monsters. I didn’t keep score because it didn’t really matter. The kids had fun. Cydney didn’t score any goals; but she got close. After a while, I wound up playing goalie and tried to let everyone score who sent against me. I wound up blocking one of two by accident.
Once the game was over, Cyd asked if she could play at the park for a little bit. I said yes because I didn’t have anything to do. I looked around, saw Fly Soccer Mom, walked over and told her in jest “As a man of my word, I said I’d catch up with you a little later.” She laughed and we talked for a good hour. We had acquaintances in common. Right before I left, she laughed and said “Small world.”
Next week will be the season finale to season five of Soccer Dad Chronicles. We play the burgundy team.
Single Dadventures 