Ralph Fletcher, in Breathing In Breathing Out, reminds us about a notebook, "It serves as a container to keep together all the seeds you gather until you're ready to plant them." Today is one of those days I struggled with an idea for writing. It's been a busy weekend and I haven't had time to spin new ideas around for awhile. The real challenge in this 31 day event is letting writing go to the world well before it is ready. It is much better to capture these ideas in a notebook and wait for them to take shape.
Today we were up at 5:30 in the morning. Yes, it is Sunday. No, I do not believe in getting up before six in the morning. It is a personal rule of mine. Nothing can possibly be more important than sleep. But I am up this morning before the sun is in the sky packing sandwiches. Thankfully I quickly got the pot of coffee brewing as I will need it. The darkness doesn't help to motivate me as I put the finishing touches on packing the cooler. The cooler is placed in the trunk with chairs and other survival equipment for my day as a sports' mom.
Growing up if anyone would have told me I would spend a good portion of my adult life on bleachers watching sporting events, I would have laughed until I cried. I didn't play sports when I was younger. I didn't even watch sports when I was younger. I grew up in a football town and had absolutely no interest in watching players run a ball back and forth down a field of pristine green. If one of my kids isn't playing, and I'm at a sporting event, it is most likely a social decision. If I'm at a sporting event I'm more likely to be able to tell you the stories of the people around me than the score at any given moment.
I suppose since I am married to a coach one would assume I would watch sporting events. That has been a factor. So has the fact that we have three kids and each one has participated in several sports. In the fall I am usually a soccer or volleyball mom. In winter I can be found at basketball games. In the spring it has been tennis or more volleyball. Thankfully baseball or softball never became an interest for my kids. I have always admired parents who will sit through nine innings of a game, two to three nights a week come rain or shine.
Today it is off for a day of volleyball, by far my favorite sport. Honestly, it is. Thankfully we are only chasing one sporting schedule now. Watching the kids play has always made all the time worth it. They've learned a lot of lessons playing sports and made many friends. I've enjoyed the time hanging out with them, and surely I've learned a little about sports along the way. I'm not a fan of getting up at 5:30 in the morning to attend a sporting event. I'm not a fan of getting up at 5:30 in the morning for anything, but I know some day I will miss this madness.
Beautiful! I love the way you come back to the time and morning and how it feels like you took us through your whole busy day, when we really haven't left your kitchen.
ReplyDeleteAs a mom of a 3- and 5-year-old, I can only imagine these days ahead and yet, know they will pass far too quickly!
(http://www.amandacornwell.edublogs.org)
I can remember the most hectic of days being those spent focused on our girls dance schedules, and yes I do miss that so much. I love in your piece when you say "someday I will miss the madness." Glad to know that you are finding joy in all aspects of the sporting events even the early rising?!
ReplyDeleteLike Amanda, I really liked the ending and how you brought it back to the time too. Very effective.
ReplyDeletei love your honesty and the flow of your piece. Great description of your sport event mornings.
ReplyDeleteYowza, I'm with you on not enjoying getting up at 5:30 - I try to never rise before 6. ;) Glad you've found the blessings of watching sports - kids can do that for you.
ReplyDeleteI have to admit I do miss the crazy schedules made by having a dancer and a cross country/track/volleyball player. I actually teared up at the last dance performance Kate had - I loved watching her move across a stage. And Carrie was fortunate enough as a junior to go to states in cross country and regionals in track. I was there every step of the way. When she got ill senior year with mono, I didn't realize I had watched her last cross country run as a junior.
ReplyDelete**That just might be fodder for a future post.