My Little Pelé

I Love Soccer. I played it for years as a child and even played co-ed with my husband's teams a few times. Both of my older boys played and same for my husband. And YES, we were just about glued to the World Cup games this year. (hahaha) So it should go without saying any children we would have would play soccer. We've been dreaming of this day since Nico was born. It's been 4 hopeful years...

Nicolas has "played" soccer before at his school. They had a private organization that specialized in PreK ages come out last year and all of the kids that signed up would get to kick the ball around and learn some basic "foot/ball/no touching with hands" rules but mostly it was just to for having fun. They also did this for basketball.

Nicolas did both. While I was unemployed last year, I would sneak out during the time I knew they would be in the yard practicing and I'd watch from my car so he wouldn't see me. About 10 kids would be kicking and running around the yard, just seeing how far they could get with the ball. All, but Nico. I knew then he wasn't ready for soccer. Touching the ball with his hands, he didn't listen to the coach, he went off doing his own thing like no one was even there. It was embarrassing and I'm glad I was in the car so no one could see my humiliation. How could he come from such a soccer family act so disinterested? Blasphemy!

So I waited. He'd eventually be ready, I told myself. He just has a little more maturing to do. Thankfully, I was (so I thought) right.

Around the World Cup games, Nicolas came to me and told me he wanted to play soccer. It was out of the blue and I was super stoked thinking "I've waited SO long for you to say that, my son!" But I didn't get too ahead of myself. Knowing how fickle my 4 year old son can be, I waited again. I'd told him I would sign him up if he wanted to play as soon as registration started in a couple of months.

Every week or so, he would ask about soccer. My husband or older boys would kick the ball around with him until he'd lose interest which was fairly quickly (but I contributed it to the heat because it was summer in Texas and Nico doesn't tolerate heat well). But still, every week now he'd come to me asking (even briefly) if he was going to get to play soccer.

Finally, registration time came and I signed him and my 13 yo up. When I told Nico, he lit up like a Christmas tree and asked when he would get to play. "Now, Mommy?" he'd ask. "No, sweetie. In a couple of weeks you'll have your first practice." Sometimes he would understand and others he'd huff away like it was taking too long to come.

So finally, "Now, Mommy?" is  answered with a resounding, "Yep!"

Yesterday was Nicolas's FIRST EVER SOCCER PRACTICE for U5Boys. His team is called the Yellin' Yetis and he has a great coach in Coach Greg (experienced younger age coach who's son is also on the team). BTW - You're lookin' at the Yetis's Team Mom! Woo hoo! 


There are 8 boys on the team: 1/2 are white and the other 4 are - (2) biracial (including Nico), 1-Chinese and 1-Indian. This is off topic but I had to share: The other bi-racial boy also comes from an "Us" marriage. This is what J and I refer to other interracial couples that look like "Us" (WM/BW). They were super nice (as were the other parents) and I'm looking forward to speaking with them more soon.

Anyway, back to the practice...Initially, Nico was excited. He jumped right in and started kicking the ball around with the other kids up and down their tiny little field.

Nicolas (in the gray) and team taking shots at the goal and Nico behind Tyson (red striped shirt), the other biracial little boy. 

This lasted until about the first water break. Then he sat next to us and declared he was "tired" and wanted to play with his father's iPhone games. Jason and I just shook our heads. J was more put off than I was. I think he knew secretly this was a mistake, but you really never know until you try, right? I told Nico he was GOING back out there with the rest of the team or he wasn't going to get to play with his father's phone at all. Nico whined but went out into the field. Not to practice, but to mope...in the middle of everything.

Here come the other obedient children with their balls and Nico standing next to the assistant coach, whimpering the entire time. Then there's Nico still brooding after everyone has passed. 


So he ruined what I expected would be a great end of the day by embarrassing us - Daddy and Team MOM - by not cooperating. You'd better believe he got an ear full when we got in the car to come home.

Which brings us to today. The day before game day. This morning Nico complained of his throat being "on fire". Normally I just dismiss things like this because he likes to complain about ANY ailment he may have but today was different. He didn't eat any breakfast AND didn't touch his gummy vitamins. This was serious.

So I took a flashlight and looked in his mouth. Red and sore. (groan - I felt like such a bad mom for not believing him initially). From what the doctor told me, it's the most red she's seen in a long time on anyone. Diagnosis? Strep. The day.Before.His FIRST.Game.

No, this isn't what strep looks like but it's what delicious looks like :) Nicolas with his blue tongue courtesy of the sucker he received at the Dr's office. He showed me as we were waiting for his prescription to be filled. 

Luckily, we were able to get his prescription pretty quickly and I administered the first dose in the car. His first game is at 9 a.m. tomorrow morning and the doctor said as long as there is no fever, he should be fine to play. And he does seem fine outside of his throat. As long as he's not kissing on anyone or drinking after anyone, he should still be able to play (esp. since he'll have had two doses by then).

So that's the plan. Hoping for no rain and no fever so we can all have a great first game! I hope every thing cooperates.

You hear that, Mr. Strep?!