Spring sports are in full effect! This means busy schedules, stinky equipment filling up the back of your minivan, and being very, very patient as your little ones learn the skills required to play the game well, how to be a good teammate, and that one musn’t leave a particular kind of cup on the kitchen table when they’re done with it. It also means the funniest parents of the internet are all over Twitter, making us laugh when they say exactly what we’re thinking.
We all know the positive aspects of raising kids who play team sports, which is why we keep our eye on the ball even when things aren’t going as smoothly as we had hoped they would.
Like when we realize how hard it will be to achieve our goals so our children can achieve theirs.
My daughter has her first-ever soccer game in the morning and, honestly, I think my proudest moment will be if I get her there on time.
— LifeUɴPιɴтereѕтιɴɢ (@LifeUnPinterest) September 9, 2017
Once all the equipment is purchased and teams are chosen, all we need to do is make sure our calendars stay up-to-date—and so does the laundry.
There’s nothing like a once-weekly extracurricular activity with a designated shirt to remind you just how infrequently you do laundry.
— Lauren Mullen (@DraggingFeeties) April 15, 2017
Sometimes we can even try our hand at coaching the team when they’re in a pinch.
I’m a good little league coach. For example, when a kid drops the ball I angrily yell important tips like “COME ON! CATCH THE BALL!”
— keith (@tchrquotes) September 17, 2015
A cool thing about the sports mom life is how easy it is to find others just like us to befriend.
You can spot a soccer mom by the camp chairs she keeps in the trunk of her SUV.
— Sara Says Stop (@PetrickSara) April 30, 2018
Though that does increase the odds of that tricky moment when another parent who is super into the sport asks which position our kid plays.
What position is it in soccer where my kid tries to find a four leaf clover?
— Simon Holland (@simoncholland) May 1, 2018
To keep things fair, each family takes turns bringing in the team snack. It’d be even more fair if our kids told us it was our turn more than eight minutes before leaving for the game.
I forgot I was soccer Snack Mom tonight. Hope the kids like packets of Splenda and pennies.
— Wendi Aarons (@WendiAarons) May 10, 2014
In one way or another, every player ends up a winner.
My son is totally going to make the the All-Star Team for kids who beg to play a sport and then whine every time they have to go to practice.
— Amy Dillon (@amydillon) September 11, 2018
Probably because they learn so much from practicing the sport.
“Playing soccer in the cold builds character, son!” I yelled…
…from inside my warm car, because it’s COLD & I already have character.
— Stephanie Ortiz (@Six_Pack_Mom) April 8, 2017
No one expects perfection. There’s a completely understandable learning curve. (Aaaand certain biological needs.)
Just became the mom at the soccer game too glued to my phone to notice my son peeing by a tree in view of all spectators. What do I win?
— Valerie (@ValeeGrrl) June 10, 2015
We’re always their biggest cheerleaders…until it’s our fourteenth game of the week and we’ve reached a point when we kind of would love to see ourselves on the couch, instead, for once.
There should be a service where you can rent parents to go see your kids play sports in your place.
— Abe Yospe (@Cheeseboy22) February 20, 2018
Or when they’re young enough to have the very first start times at the crack of dawn on Saturday mornings.
“Rain, rain, you can stay.
You’re getting me out of a soccer game!”A parent’s lullaby.
— Julie Burton (@ksujulie) April 29, 2017
But that doesn’t mean we don’t do everything we can to motivate them into being as great as we believe they can be!
I told my 8yo he could play tablet the rest of the day if he played a good soccer game, and suddenly he turned into Messi
— Robert Knop (@FatherWithTwins) April 14, 2018
And learn to be more flexible, ourselves.
Having kids involved in sports is fun if you like coming home & making dinner at 10pm.
— Sarcastic Mommy (@sarcasticmommy4) April 27, 2018
So we are definitely in it for the long haul. (Mostly because we can maybe never leave?)
My kids are in different age groups for spring soccer, so I’m at the field today and I’ll be there tomorrow and I guess we live here now.
— Lurkin’ Mom (@LurkAtHomeMom) May 2, 2017
Have kids who aren’t so into sports? Check out this list of 50 other activities they can try!
