AAAaaaaaa! Soccer Mom Freak Out!

Finally. This week is over. I'm not sure if I can adjust to being a soccer mom. This is a tough business. The needle on my gas tank is freaking out! It's not used to all of this. And frankly, I'm freaking out, too! Yesterday, we got all of the water bottles together, soccer gear on and left the house with ALL FOUR KIDS at 5pm. I went to look for Academy (near older son's practice) because my younger son needed a ball and my husband said there weren't any size 3s at Walmart. I couldn't find it, so I dropped off my older son at 5:15. My younger son was kinda freaking out about not having a ball, so I decided to swing by Walmart, which is not close to any place we are going. So, we zoom over to the dreaded Wally World, praying that they have a size 3 ball. I was prepared to buy the more expensive brand if needed. I get the remaining 3 kids out of the car and rush into Walmart at 5:25. They had TWO cheap size 3 soccer balls. One just had to be PINK! My little girl was begging for me to buy the pink ball for her. I'm like, "You are just going to have to share with your brothers and they do not want a pink ball!" So, we grab the other one, slip by the hair dye (got roots?) and got into the "express lane." Believe it or not, there was NO LINE at Walmart at 5:35! I also grabbed a Dr. Pepper while in line because my week has been THAT stressful! (And I wonder why the weight isn't coming off!) So, we make it to the car by 5:40!!! I get all those kiddos in the car, along with the soccer ball, hair dye and that wonderfully sinful ice cold bottle of Dr. Pepper. And we made it to the second practice 15 minutes early!!! Yeah! I called my husband (to brag) who had just woken up to get ready for his vampire nurse routine and was dreadfully disappointed that his happy little home was empty. But, he had a lovely note (detailing our schedule so he could make his accordingly at work), a wonderful home-cooked meal, and coffee ready to go in the coffee maker. AND he even had 4 choices of homemade dinners to take to work. After talking to him, I met a great couple at soccer practice who reminded me of some other people I've known and loved. They have a son the age of my second and a daughter the same age as mine (a little younger). I spent the rest of soccer practice trying to keep the baby from flinging mud at their little pigtailed girl (who was in a sour mood). He was making mud with his water bottle and red dirt, then slinging it at her. He was having a great time! Their little girl was really irritated, which was making it all the more fun for my baby. You could just see his eyes dancing! It was hard not to laugh. Before we knew it, it was 7 and we packed up the minivan (I still can't believe I drive one.) and headed over to the first soccer practice, which also ends at 7! The 9 yr. old jumped in the van, informed me that we gave him soapy water to drink and we headed for home. Then, I had to make sure everyone had a bath, considering the red mud and all, make a snack and get them in bed! Whew! And I have to do this TWICE a week! I can't believe people do multiple extra-curricular activities. And some people have more kids than I do. What am I going to do when the little ones are older and want to do sports, too?! My girl is already asking to do soccer (although I think she'd actually prefer dance. She was never interested in soccer before now.)! I'm kinda freaking out. I don't think I'm cut out for this. Then, I look at their game schedules. I have to go to two soccer games EVERY Saturday starting next week through the first week in November. They are all at totally different times. One will be in the morning and the other mid-afternoon. I don't even know where these fields are, but I have a feeling they aren't close to my house. Ok, this is not complaining. This is FREAKING OUT! If they didn't love it, I could just tell myself that this is just for a season. But they LOVE it and they are going to be totally disappointed if they don't get to keep doing it. AND they keep the same teams season after season, so then, you feel like you are letting down the team if you quit after one season--especially with the older one because they take it so seriously. And I just know (here comes the bragging again) that my older son is going to be their star player!!! LOL! Ok, maybe not. He doesn't have as much experience as some of them, but he's pretty darn athletic. I'm pretty sure he's got the best coach, too. His coach is a high school soccer coach and he's been doing it for 12 years. He emphasises fun and said that if the kids aren't having fun, then he's not doing his job. He fully expects that they will go to tournament. Do you KNOW how much tournaments cost?? Is this really what I signed up for? What was I thinking? Well, I'm going to do some research now on how much dance classes costs in Lubbock. Little Girl already feels slighted. Please send chocolate.