Soccer Mom

It is official. I am a soccer Mom. I love it. I am now complete. Minivan and all.

Sam started soccer in January. He has so much fun running around the field and it is so cute to watch. Some of you may remember his short lived soccer career back when he was almost 3. It did not go too well. At 4, he really, really enjoys it. He is on a team with Ben, one of his best buddies. Ben's dad, Zac, is the coach and Keith is the assistant coach. Elise and I cheer them on from the sidelines. We yell things like,

"Go Sam!"

" Way to Hustle!"

"Stay with the ball"

"Stay focused, and, um, stop hugging Ben!"

"Sam! Ben! Stop kissing and get the ball!"

I'd like to say I was kidding about the hugging and kissing but I am not. And unfortunately, I think it is Sam who is always the instigator of such behavior. I can see Curly getting uncomfortable with this news...but no worries, Curly. Sam has a serious crush on our 15 year old neighbor, Marissa. I am talking serious. We often write love notes and he leaves them on her front door.

So speaking of being a soccer mom, this reminds me of something that has been bothering me. I have always had a little bit of silent, personal pride for my taste in music. I think I find a unique mix of tunes that aren't just your basic pop songs heard on the radio. I thought I had my own taste. I thought I was different. I thought I was special.

Then, I found this while browsing iTunes.

Soccer Mom Chillout. Here is the first line of the description of this music collection.

"This is for all the ladies living life in the minivan, who get the tots off early and don't stop 'till sports practice, piano lessons, playdates, din-din, and homework are all in the rearview mirror."


I took a look at the collection and I see artists like Tori Amos, Coldplay, and Colbie Callait listed. Okay, that's fine. I like their songs but they play on the radio so lots of people probably like them. Wait....now I see Glen Hanson and Marketa Irglova, The Innocence Mission, Brandi Carlile, Lucinda Williams, and Ray Lamontagne. There are many more in this list that I thought were my own little secrets. Am I really that predictable? You mean to tell me all soccer moms listen to music like this? I don't have my own unique taste in music? I am just category that some employee at Apple figured out based on the year I was born and when I decided to have babies? Darn. Shoot...and now I have the short sassy haircut too.


I could let this depress me. But then I look at a picture like this...
...and all is well. I am a lucky soccer mom.