here she goes....

Yesterday marked the beginning of Cate's soccer career (or something).  The first three practices were canceled due to crappy weather but yesterdays scorching 45* finally made it possible to play outside.  Today was her first scheduled game, so to say they would be unprepared was an understatement...but for 5-year old soccer, it's all about having fun anyway (so they tell me).  Cate has been super excited about starting soccer.  She is playing with a great group of girls who have rockstar parents and I think all but one of them will be in kindergarten together next year.  Most of the girls she knows from Paddlers and she couldn't wait to spend more time with them.  She has been wearing her shin guards and shorts all week, which look very funny on her.. I'm used to her in tutu's and princess high heels.  She chose a pair of longer Adidas soccer shorts that literally hang past her knees...shocked me because she normally refuses to wear anything that is even a tad bit big on her.  Carter is convinced her love of these "boy-ish" shorts means she's going to be a lesbian.  Not that there's anything wrong with that.  Carter wears me out, that's all I'm going to say about it.  Regardless, in terms of soccer gear, she's thrilled.  Oh, and when her coach asked her if the #1 jersey was ok, she looked at her like, "seriously, what other number would I be?" 

Brady's old bag...perfect fit, don't ya think?!

The first practice wasn't exactly what I was expecting.  I don't really know what I expected, but it's 24 hours later and I'm still trying to wrap my brain around it.  I knew Cate wouldn't necessarily be Brady-like on the field (he scored like six goals his first game...and every game that first season), but I just didn't think she'd be that....girly out on the field.  How did I, of all people, end up with a girly girl??  And girls sports are so different!!!!  The prancing, cartwheels, waving to parents on the sidelines....so different.

 

I realize I don't seem too supportive, but I promise I've been nothing but the perfect cheerleader in front of Cate :) I'm hoping this is just a quick boys vs. girls adjustment phase I'm going through and I'll be back to my normal soccer mom self by the next game.  I've been very spoiled with my boys athletic ability and I guess I've just taken it for granted.  Cate wasn't quite the go-getter that Brady and Carter were on their first soccer outings.  And have I mentioned that this girls sports stuff is a little different than the boy stuff I'm used to??!  First of all, their uniforms are teal.  TEAL!  And their team name is Bluebirds.  BLUEBIRDS!  Cate even came home from practice and drew a picture of a bluebird for her coach. WTH?  Most of the girls were pretty clueless as to what actually happens during a soccer game.  I don't know why this surprised me??  They're five years old and they've never played before, they absolutely should not know what to do.  But, I thought Cate would.  I mean, she has probably sat through more than 8,000 games in the last five years! During the scrimmage, she did a lot of standing.  Like, A LOT.  She yelled "MOMMY" then gave me the 'thumbs-up', threw out random high-fives for no reason, and gulped down water during the breaks like she had just run five miles in 100* heat.  When Scott called from baseball practice and asked how she was doing, I told him she was doing a lot of standing and he said "That's it! Pull her off the field, she can just be a cheerleader".  We're bad, I know.  So...after practice, I was kinda thinking she wouldn't be as excited about soccer anymore.  I thought she would possibly be discouraged and bored, cause you know..she barely touched the ball...but to my surprise (and delight!) she loved it!  Like, REALLY LOVED IT.  When we got in the car, she declared she had "the best practice ever" and could not wait for her first game.  She also told me she couldn't believe how hard she worked and she thought her armpits got sweaty.  (Um, I must have missed that).   

 

So, after mulling it over for a day, I'm happy to say I've almost accepted that Cate didn't go out and rock the soccer world during her first practice.  I'm ok with her being somewhat clueless because I know after Brady runs her through his Soccer101 class, she's going to play lights out...or something :) I'm happy she didn't cry and refuse to take the field but instead ran out there and jumped right in.  But mostly, I'm proud that she has so much self-confidence that she can walk off the field (after being mediocre at best.  Ok, I'm done, promise!) and give me a look like "Damn, did I rock that or what?!" So, I've had a long talk with myself and have decided to just sit back and enjoy her season, offer endless high-fives and mommy waves from the sidelines, and leave the competitiveness to her brothers.  And who knows, maybe this princess will end up finding her inner sports bad ass self and teach us all a thing or two :)

 

Today when we woke up, it was pouring and all soccer games were canceled for the day.  Cate was so sad :(  but I'm thankful they have at least one more practice before their first game and we have seven days to run her through drills in the backyard.  Ok, now I'm really done. 

GO BLUEBIRDS!!!!