Since the end of Heart Month life has been one wild ride. Kaitlynn and Jackson ended basketball and all three jumped right into soccer. Phil is coaching both Madelynn's and Jackson's teams. He was was only going to coach Jackson's team. However the league was short coaches. Phil and I agreed he would take on the coaching jobs and I would help with all the behind the scenes things setting up group emails, making team rosters, snack lists and anything else he needed help with.
We have had lots of rained out practices and games. However the season is finally underway. Madelynn's team is undefeated 3-1 (she scored one goal) and 6-1 (she scored 3 goals). She will play again tomorrow if the fields aren't too wet. Jackson's team has played one game, which ended in a 4-4 tie (Jackson scored 3 goals). It has been great to watch.
Kaitlynn is on a team , The Lady Hurricanes, with girls she has played with for three seasons including the same coach. I know we aren't supposed to pick favorites but I LOVE to watch her team play the most. When these girls are on they can not be beat. Sadly their first game was not their best day ( I am being nice) and they lost 3-1. The next day the girls played again and it was like the real team showed up and they won 2-1. However that is not the real story here.
Parents are not allowed on the field at anytime unless the ref or coach calls them due to injury. Katilynn's team was winning 2-0 in her last game. She was in the goalie box; the ball was coming at her and she tried to land on and smother it. However, the ball popped out and the opposing team scored. But I noticed Kaitlynn did not get up. Knowing I couldn't enter the field I screamed the coaches name. When he looked at me I pointed to Kaitlynn laying on the ground.
As the coach ran to her she started to get up. When the coach finally reached her he said something to her and kissed her on the forehead. It made me release a sigh of relief. She was limping but ok. I could not see from my vantage point but in trying to win the ball and stop the score she was cleated in the thigh. It left a pretty nasty bruise. She was pulled from the game and when she was ready coach put her back in (about 5 minutes later). She is tough as nails and a fighter.
Kaitlynn has become this way because we taught her to fight for what she wants and she has a stellar coach. He can bring out the best in these girls, I have seen it. From Kaitlynn's point of view he is tall, broad shoulders and initially kind of scary. To know him he is a kind and gentle souled man. He treats these girls like they are an extension of his own family. I don't always agree with the decisions he makes but I only have the parents perspective from the other side of the field.
Kaitlynn asked me if she could play goalie. I told her it was not my decision and he needed to ask the coach. To see her be brave and stand up to the coach and ask if she could play goalie was very sweet. He stood their looking her in the eye and listened to her ask to play goalie. I don't know what was said other than if it was something she really wanted it required coming to every practice early for goalie training. She hasn't missed it yet. She is one of the shortest on the team but yet she plays goalie for the second half of almost every game.
I am not going to lie I do not believe Kaitlynn is goalie material. If for no other reason than the height barrier. But she also is a great forward and mid-fielder. But to see her in the goalie box fighting for every ball she LOVES it and she is good at. I believe Kaitlynn's coach sees the big picture. Whenever soccer ends for Kaitlynn whether that be next year or 10 years from now she will have had a coach that let her play the game with no regrets. She has played every positions. She has learned you both win and lose as a team. She knows that even at the end of her worst loss, she will have learned something.
Over the next five days we will need to attend 6 six games (2 for each child). Because of Kaitlynn's coach, I have become a crazy soccer mom, made some great friends and learned that life is becoming more balanced and not totally consumed with Madelynn's heart condition. It makes us all better people.
