Just booked the first craft/vintage show of the season. I have a bunch of applications out and pending but this one is a done deal.
March 4 & 5
Market Hall, Raleigh
Thursday, February 4, 2016
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
I Know I'm Doing Something Right
One Year ago today was a huge day in our family. Today is National Senior Sign Day. It is the day that high school athletes all over the country sign their letters of intent to play at their chosen college or university. My daughter was one of those chosen few last year.
Our journey through recruiting was long and amazing. Some say it is a year long process but I say more life a lifetime, my daughter's life. It started with recreation teams with friends from pre-k and moved on to upper levels of play from there. Travel teams, premier, then classic and finally the top level for girls in the ECNL. Busses, long interstate car rides, planes, international and finally college division 1 soccer. It has been an amazing adventure.
Yes, I got more than a little teary.
When I think of all the practices and games and driving her father and I have done it is staggering. It all built up to this one moment where all her dreams came true and she signed to UNC Charlotte Women's soccer team.
It was HER dream. MY dream is to make the dreams of my kids come true. We did everything we could to help her on this journey. That is part of my job as a mom. The bigger part of the job happens off the field.
I could not have taught her to play soccer, I was not a soccer player. My high school did not even have a team for girls (I don't think). What I can teach her is intangible. I can teach her independence. I am a small business owner who does it all on her own. I can lead by example. I can giver her all the best advice in the world and then let her make her own decisions and applaud when it all goes well and be there to help her up when it all goes wrong. It can be so hard to let them stand on their own, so often we want to do things for them. They won't learn anything that way. I am not THAT mom. I don't register you for your high school classes because how will you learn to register for college classes? I don't give you gas money because I am not driving the car, you are. Get a job. She learns more from having to EARN money than from me giving it to her.
I can teach her about determination and never giving up. I can teach her about kindness and compassion. I can show her unconditional love. I can show her how to work hard and never give up. Responsibility for one's actions and accountability.
A year after she signed those papers, I can see all those amazing qualities in her. I know I am doing a good job as a mom. I see it in all my kids everyday. It is not often that I say "Kudos to me" but today I will.
It takes a special kind of person to go on and play a sport in college. Those kids don't show up that way. There are parents standing behind them cheering, teaching, molding, loving, and leading by example.
Here's me and the hubby at UNC Charlotte in the stands.....cheering and supporting, as usual.
GO NINERS!
She is gearing up for spring soccer right now. I am getting ready for middle school track season and ultimate frisbee season. I'm not sure what I will do when the sports end. For now I will stand on the sidelines and in the stands cheering, sit in my car during practices, and be in the stands watching halftime, not the football game. I will continue to be the tough loving mom who never lets them give up and who never gives up on them. There are lessons to be learned everyday and I'm doing a pretty good job teaching them.
What brought all this on today of all days? Memories that make me smile and cry at the same time. Proud momma moments that make me who I am.
Here are 2 great ads that I think really capture just what I feel sometimes.
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