In it to win it

After the deadline had passed and at the last minute, we decided to sign up Peanut for soccer.

On the way home from the babysitter's house each day we pass a bunch of soccer fields, usually filled with kids and their parents in the baking sun. For a year, Peanut has begged us to play soccer. She's been to a couple of her cousin's games as well as our babysitter's daughter. She really wanted to play but our work schedules made it difficult.

Finally, we decided, what the hell? We'll figure out a way to make it work (I'm beginning to think this is the theme of parenthood.)

Peanut and I went shopping and got her athletic clothes at Target. Even the XS shorts are way too big on her and I need to sew them. The first time she wore them, she ran around the backyard until her shorts just fell off her skinny butt (there is a reason we call her Peanut.)

So Wednesday I got a call from her coach's daughter who said our first practice would be in six hours.

*blink blink*

Um, ok. Short notice but we can make it work. I asked the girl who we should look for and she said, "My dad is Juan. He's a dark Mexican."

*blink blink*

So I called the husband, told him I would meet him at home to get Peanut ready and that he needed to meet Juan, the dark Mexican.

I stayed home with Madzilla, who we figured would be a distraction at practice. The husband said practice went down like this:

Coach Juan is in it to win it. He had his team of 4-year-olds doing suicides, push ups, jumping jacks, running the field backwards and doing high knees. Not only were they conditioning but he had the kids go head to head, trying to get the ball from a partner. They were even running drills. All on the first day of practice.

Coach Juan is no joke. While all of this sounded a little intense for preschoolers, the husband said it was great and that the coach was really teaching the kids (even calmly telling one kid that it was inappropriate to say shut up.)

Stretching before practice. We had a back-up pair of shorts because the ones I bought were too big. I will be sewing this weekend.

GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL!

Jumping jacks. Look at that form. That technique. That little booty.

Coach Juan, the team and her Go Bucks ball. Peanut is apparently the smallest kid on the team but doesn't let that stop her.

Game on, bitches.

I don't want to be one of those parents but let's just say I'm looking forward to the 2028 Olympics.