I confess: We're too busy for soccer

As much as it pains me (and more so Adam) to admit, we weren't able to let the boys do spring soccer this year. I know sports are important for many reasons, but we just can't fit it into our schedules with the less than ideal practice times we'd have, and the fact that Adam will have to do a lot more traveling for work in the coming months.



Aidan really started to become a more confident player last season. Sad to lose that momentum.


I feel even worse about it since this time Logan was actually looking forward to playing. He loved soccer when he first started playing, but much to Adam's dismay, got disinterested and refused to play in the fall. Honestly, it worked out much better for us anyway since we didn't have to juggle multiple practice nights or competing weekend game times. But just as soon as he decided to give it another try, we pulled the rug out from under him.

But the reality is that I can't do Logan's practice every Monday from 6:15-7:15 AND Aidan's practice every Wednesday from 5-6pm. Just getting to Aidan's 5pm practice last season was a mad dash since the bus doesn't even come until sometimes closer to 4:30. And I work 8 hours a day outside the home. And Adam has soccer and I have Zumba on Mondays already.

On top of that, it's enough of a struggle for Aidan to get his ~90min of homework done at home on a normal night, and still have time to eat a normal meal (aka not cereal) and bathe and go to bed at 8/8:30. We would have to sacrifice a normal dinner and quality homework time TWO days a week (not to mention Lorelai's bedtime on Mondays) for several months.

I guess we've lucked out with previous seasons getting good practice times (last year their practices were back-to-back on the same day, which was the most ideal), and the lighter homework load was a big factor. But the biggest wrench this time is Adam's travel schedule. If he's not there on a regular basis to share that burden (especially with allowing one of us to be home to put Lorelai to bed like normal), I don't see how it logistically makes sense. I'm not superwoman, apparently unlike all of the other parents who have multiple kids in multiple different extracurricular activities. Seriously, what's the secret?? How do you make it work?

While I'm sure we could probably push back bedtime if we had to, or come up with more creative meal ideas, the thought of living with this schedule flat out overwhelms me. I like our routine and I like things to be less complicated, not a logistical nightmare. I'm sure it's mostly selfish on my part, but I don't see how adding stress to my (our) situation will result in anyone being happy.



Fortunately, there was relatively little fuss from the boys when we broke the news to them. Aidan enjoys playing, but said he's okay missing a season (we'll re-evaluate in the fall and keep our fingers crossed for a better schedule!). As for Logan, he was a little sad, but said that as long as we take him bowling on the weekend, he would be okay. Deal, kiddo.

Linking up with Heather and Megan:

Farewell to soccer...for now.

Spring soccer has (finally!) come to an end (um, a few weeks ago—my laziness got in the way of me posting about it sooner). It was great for the boys, but it was really hectic for us, so I'm glad to have our weeknights and weekends back. (To do what, though? You would think that more free time would lend itself to more frequent blogging...but you'd be wrong. Sorry for being MIA!)

Aidan's team had a rough couple of games at first, but they picked up steam towards the end of the season and won some really tough games. Aidan showed lots of progress and developed some skills as a defender.




Poor Aidan was heartbroken that he didn't get a trophy at the end of the season. All he got was a snack and a great big hug and high five from Mommy and Daddy, but that's apparently not as good as a trophy. Obvs. (Apparently none of the parents or coaches realized that if you wanted trophies for your players, you had to actually order them yourself. Lesson learned...)

Coach Adam helped lead the Maroon Dragons to victory.

As for Logan, we thought he peaked after his first game because he had a bit of a lull in enthusiasm for games during the next few weeks, but fortunately he came around and really got into it, and continued to ROCK on his team. Offense, defense, runner extraordinaire, he was all over that field. In his last three games, he was literally the only one on his team who touched the ball at all. He scored and blocked more goals than I can count, and single-handedly led his team to landslide wins.



Practice is a different story though. Logan loved the games, but loathed practice. He hated practice so much that he's refusing to play soccer next season. We'll see. It'll break Adam's heart if Logan gives up on it, when he's clearly so naturally talented at it.

Lorelai was the cutest little cheerleader on the sidelines. I told Logan she'll be sad if he doesn't play soccer anymore. And how could you disappoint this face?!





So farewell to soccer for now, and maybe (hopefully!) we'll be back on those fields in the fall.

And maybe (hopefully!) I'll be back to more regular blogging now.