SOCCER MOM

by Danna Shirley written about her daughter and granddaughters...

Writing assignment: 
Use the followings words or any form thereof in a story.

Busy     Happy     Sleepy     Diarrhea     Scampered     Corn

How does one settle a blended life . . . work verses family? After earning a Master’s Degree and attaining the top position in a city government agency, how could I then become a stay-at-home mom with two children? The question to be settled now was priorities. What were mine? Being the Director of the Chamber of Commerce or the mother of two beautiful and loving daughters?

The Chamber kept me very busy throughout the day, as well as an occasional night function that required my attendance. I felt I should avail myself of the five years of college and its cost to prove it was worth it and not wasted. The girls deserved the same time and consideration for they would be in my life far longer and beyond any career. I was happy when involved in both but so sleepy and drained at the end of each day. The work kept my mind sharp and challenged in an adult world, but motherhood gave me such love and joy.

When Emma entered Kindergarten and Bella was just two, the extreme struggle between work and family took its toll. Every morning I would commute to the daycare, then work; in the afternoon, back to the daycare, home, cooking, baths, prayers. I was missing out on their everyday lives; little programs at school and field trips to the zoo. Phone calls would inform me that a little boy had pinched Bella and made her bleed; or another child used a marker on Emma’s new dress.

There were also the inevitable contagions that would spread like wildfire through the daycare; diarrhea, vomiting, sore throats, lice, and once there was a piece of corn stuck in Emma’s ear. All too often I was greeted with a crisis at the daycare door as the children scampered to me crying and upset.

My heart swelled with pride not through the job but through the children; when Emma took her first steps and Bella gave me her first smile. I knew my priority had to be to raise these sweet little girls to become loving, caring adults. Anyone could direct the activities of the Chamber but I wanted no one to replace me in the hearts of my children.

My husband and I discussed the possibility of a one-income family and so it was decided; I would quit work and be a stay-at-home mom. I put all of my education and experience into the children and their activities. At their Christian school, I became a room mother, the PTF President, fundraising chairman many times over, helped with numerous events, lunches, and have been an all-around go-to girl for the school and staff. In addition, I drove Mom’s Taxi for morning drop-offs and afternoon pickups at two different campuses, elementary and middle school.  

Eventually I did become the stereotypical Soccer Mom. Not only did my girls play soccer but they also danced, and cheered, ran track, and played baseball; activities in which they could never have participated if I still worked. They wanted to try everything and I was glad to be there through it all . . . the recitals, the practices, the games, the meets, the costumes and uniforms; and definitely was there for the casts (three of them), the ace bandages, and the ice packs.

  My Soccer Mom duties have been a pleasure for all of us. I wouldn’t change my decision for one second and we especially thank my husband and their dad for all his support . . . and checkbook.