My love hate relationship with soccer.

The summer soccer season is coming to an end, with 3 Princes playing that means 3 teams. 3 teams, that would mean 3 days a week you say, not so bad, well 3 games a week , that is a lot of soccer. Take for instance middle Prince his team has played this week Monday- Monday (coming) 4 games; Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and then Monday. Now add the other two and their soccer schedule and practices 7 days a week, most days on two pitches. That is a lot, its a lot for the kids, its a lot for their families and it is a lot for their parents who love the game, love their kids enough to drive them all over Timbuktu. But we do it cause we love it!

When I met my husband he was playing soccer with two teams, maybe I should have packed up my bags and ran. But how was I to guess that I would end up with 3Princes, 3Princes who love sports, who love soccer. O.K. yes maybe their love for the beautiful game was inbred, maybe it was a given, maybe its accidental, whatever the case we are entrenched in the sport.

I love watching my Princes in everything they do, I puff like a peacock when they do something extraordinary, and I beam from ear to ear  all giddy when they prove that they are Princes. I get excited when they do well in soccer, cheering as loud as the best of them when they win a penalty, strike the ball for the best outcome, or make that perfect dive as Last-Man!

With 3 boys and only one of me, I can’t possibly see all of each of their games, but I do my best to set them up for the best outcome. I ensure that the entire day is setup for the game; from checking the bags to diet to giving them a bit of a routine to rely on. I do not go over game plays, pay them for goals scored/ goals saved, or threaten them. This is all up to them. Each of the boys train 2 to 3 times a week, they know what to do, they know how to play the game. I am not in there sweating it out for a win, just sitting on the sidelines ooohing and ahhhing, clapping & cheering with every step.

Now comes an end to the outdoor season, the boys have all improved this summer, their fitness is at its peak, they are agile & smart. I need to book at the hair salon to deal with the wisps of grey that I earned this season.

Go Panthers Go! Go Clarkson Go! Go Panthers Go!

(sometimes I just scream R U N!)

Read Full Post »

I am a lucky mom!

On our recent family trip to South Africa we drove the Trans Sky from Durban to Cape Town I learned to appreciate what I have with the 3Princes.

I consider myself educated when it comes to life in third world countries. South Africa has a mix of the best and the worst. Cape Town is  modern, I could see my self living there, even with the dangers of the Townships. We had been to South Africa 3 years ago so I knew what the townships looked like and saw how much had changed this time since the last time we were there. I understand the cultures, and see the values in the way they live staying connected with family. But knowing of these hardships, understanding how they have chosen to live or the situation that they have found themselves in can’t be described or understood through pictures but I hope you can get a sense through my pictures and words.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Its these images that serve as a reminder to me of  how lucky I truly am, how lucky the 3Princes truly are, and how by no choice of their own how one person can be born into… I do have some things in common with these people in my photos, they belong to a community and their moms love them as much as I love my own Princes. I am sure these moms have chosen their children’s names with as much care and thought as I have. That these moms want the world for their children. That they live their life giving to their family and their community. That everyday they get up and hope that today will be the best day.

My differences are much greater than my similarities to these moms. They have worries that few of us will ever be able to comprehend. I can not imagine. Would I get sleep if I didn’t know when we were having our next meal, or if there would be enough food to go around. If I knew that children around the world were being born into homes where they could get an education, and mine would never read or write. Could I keep going if my children were more likely to die of illness before they are ten or know that they are unlikely to get a job but live a life crime.

As Mommy’s Day draws nearer, please think about being a mom in a Township on the Trans Sky. Love your children as much as these moms do, give them everything you can; these moms do.

Read Full Post »

Being an ‘everything mom’ is hard!

Trying to give the 3Princes experiences, and let them explore and express their interests is not always easy. I am trying to raise 3Princes into Gentle-men, this process is a long one.

Besides raising three boys  which yes is; loud, physical, messy-come-filthy, and often stinky I want them to have experiences I didn’t experience. The first step in this long process is giving up a part of me. I left my job to raise them, I was fast tracking but staying home wasn’t that hard to do when I saw that little face needing me. I truly feel the importance of me being at home, even now that the youngest is in full time school.  Not everyone in my family thinks this, you see.

My mommy job has included homeschooling (now driving to school,) making meals, doing laundry, cleaning (not my strong point, but I have a hurricane arrive everyday around 3pm that doesn’t fade until sometime after 10pm), driving; lots and lots of driving. Now the only aspect that I don’t officially do is homeschooling in the same sense as say 19 Kids & Counting  http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/tv/19-kids-and-counting  but the spirit is still the same helping them learn to read and write, math games, trips to; museums, zoos and parks.

Now I am finding that to give them as much of what I want to I need to earn some money somehow, that or find that elusive money tree. In this quest for money I have sent out feelers, anyone know of a job 10-3pm that pays well? Afterall my time is valuable. No-one replied. So I am doing what I can. I started a fledgling business offering office administration assistance; GirlFriday Administrators.

Those trips aren’t my only expense in this quest to raise these 3. Littlest Prince is a competitive Irish Dancer, with this he dreams of competing at Nashville for the North American Nationals and then to make it to Worlds! It is entirley possible, but with this dream comes expenses; dance shoes*, custom dance pants, custom vest, hotel stays, travel… but he is just that good.

    

I have taken on a lot to get him his dream to come true. He is young, he trains hard, and with his schedule of soccer training and his Irish Dance training he doesn’t have a night off during the week. He is acutely aware of this, but wants this dream. He loves the stage, he loves the dance, and mostly he loves the competition! I am happy to work to get him there if he continues to work hard to get there.

The Middle Prince is a keeper for a rep. soccer team. He has 3-4 practices a week plus goalie training and games. This is his dream, the one thing he likes more than anything else. If he didn’t have soccer he would spend his free time on the computer or watching t.v.  This love for the game comes with a price, total exhaustion and money! He has set his sights high but not to an unattainable height. My Prince wants to be keeper for Team Canada! He’s 12 years old in a week, he’s at the perfect age to get it right, to train hard and to show what he can do.

The eldest, my first born. He is a passionate soccer player, a striker with a shot to make most goalies humble. He loves the game it is a part of his being. This year he discovered another talent, he is a drummer. He has been taking lessons at T-Rox Music Academy http://t-rox.ca/  and more than anything he has found something that his brothers can’t do! He has earned a position in his school performance band. I love that he has found something that he can express himself.  Between soccer and drums he, too, is busy.  His rep. soccer team trains 3-4 times a week, and he takes music lessons weekly plus band practice and practice at home.

        

These 3Princes are why I do what I do, why I get up early and go to bed late. Why I work on building a business and network everywhere I go. I don’t have fancy clothes or get my nails done, but I do have 3Princes who are growing to be Gentle-Men and I hope that one day I can step back and be thrilled with everything that they have achieved.  In the end I can sleep later and what good is a fancy manicure if my hands are soaking in dishwater?

*Littlest Prince prefers to wear Rutherford Reel shoes; Capezio Split Sole Jazz Shoes With Hy Tech Heels & Rutherford Heavies;  Super Black Suede Sole Flexi Jig Shoe 

Read Full Post »