Soccer dreams of a mother........

So so sad, soccer season is over. NOw anxiously awaiting next season. Yes I confess, I have become a Soccer MOM! I'm obsessed with my daughter playing soccer.
I can't help it. She has grown to be such a talented and promising soccer player. Her games have become so exciting. SO much that you may notice there isn't anymore pictures or videos of the actual game cause they are too good for me to be taking pictures or video! My eyes are glued to her game where her average is at least 2 goals per game and has been known to score up to 5 goals.

Sorry if this sounds like gloating, hahaha but it is! Sorry if it sounds full of pride, hahaha cause it is. Hey 24 hours of intense labor give me permission to be a show off once in awhile. And yes, I am one of those annoying moms who cheers at the top of her lungs and screams and jumps. I love it. Now we're at a crossroads, do we stay in recreational or do we fork up the bucks and put her in competitive. But whatever we do, I love that she loves the sport. She breaths, eats, and sleeps soccer and not because I push it on her, cause she loves it.

Here she is whit her BFF who when we first started surpassed Natalie by a lot. Now Natalie is past her. Now I don't say this to be rude, but when the other girls are quitting the game cause it was too hot, or they were too thirsty, or just didn't feel like it, Natalie is the first one to be there to push through.

Like my dad simply said it, Natalie's talent is not a natural born talent for soccer. She is someone who fell in love with the sport and has given it her all to listen to her coach, her grampa, her dad and even Brother Gatson and has been able to learn. She's more of a natural learner. She's a go getter until the whistle is blown. She doesn't only like to play, she LOVES to play. She LOVES the game and that makes her different because that makes her reach deep inside her for that extra oomph to keep pushing and playing even when she's tired or hot.

She still has a long way to go, a lot to learn. BUT I'm already dreaming of her future World Cup win, of her being the H.S. star, of getting soccer scholarships the list goes on and on. I guess it's just inedible that parents do live through their kids. This poor girl who never got to play soccer is now living her dreams through her daughter. Sad but true! And not imbarrased to admit it.

The joy of being a kid.

Aaaaaaaaa I'm so frustrated with the quality of my camera. Can't wait 'til I can get a new one. Anyways Natalie's soccer season is over and to celebrate the team got together at the splash pad.

The girls had a wonderful time. I can't believe how attached we've become to these girls. We're really going to miss the team.

I'm not too sentimental but for some reason as I stood there watching my little girl run into the water and splash and giggle I got a knot in my throat and my eyes got watery.

I looked at her and all this feelings came flooding in my mind and heart. I looked at her and thought about all the years I wasn't really there for. I was working so hard and pretty much sacrificed 4 years of her life. The most important years of her life. I missed her being a little girl, and even when I was finally with her it felt like I really wasn't there. Like I was always pushing for her to be independent, to grow up so fast. And now here she was almost 9 years old. 3 more years and she'll be in Young Womans. Yet here she was, running, gigging, jumping like the little girl that she still is.

I loved watching her still embrace her little girl inside. I felt guilty that Jaimito was having me in his life, I'm getting to enjoy him. He's getting what Natalie didn't get.

I also felt joy. In these times where a 9 year old is so advanced. Where a 9 year old is too cool or big to run around in a splash pad, here was my little girl doing exactly that. I felt tears coming for the simple fact that I felt blessed to be there being able to enjoy this moment. This blessing which I was cherishing. I wanted to save this moment forever in my mind and heart.

And even now as I write this post I can't help but feel nolstalgic about it. In the rush of things, the everyday squedule, the stressed times, the work, and everything else, we just don't truly savor our kids. We then find ourselves like this, wishing we could freeze time or even turn back time to when they were just babies!