Recently my oldest has taken an interest in soccer. Not gonna lie, at first I was a bit nervous. He isn’t the most athletic kid and to be honest, he goes outside as little as possible (which is not totally his fault, he does have some medical issues that give him good reason to not want to go into the out). Anyways, as I’m guessing most moms do, I feared I would be investing money that would soon be wasted, but I was more than willing to spend the money needed to get his feet on the field and see how it would go.

Who would have guessed that it would be a huge hit?! Not only with the oldest but in our whole little family! My youngest son now wants to be a goalkeeper. After thinking about it, being a goalie would be perfect for him. He doesn’t particularly care for interacting with anyone outside of his close circle, but he loves to be active and loves to help others succeed. He is my tough little guy that has a huge heart, so jumping out in front of a speeding ball to help his team, really sums up who he is…

My oldest has learned so much about organized sports, teamwork, and even how to interact with different personalities and how those personalities can change during a game. Playing soccer seems to come naturally for him. His genuine love for playing shines every time he puts on his cleats. His endurance is incredible. His smile is contagious. He doesn’t even care so much about winning or losing, he just loves to play. He also has made a few friends along the way. I couldn’t be more proud of him!

Of course, let’s not skip over the fact that I very much enjoy stepping into this new adventure. Love being there for my oldest! Love being at all of his practices and games, love that he asks everyday to go out and pass the ball with him, love watching the smile on his face as he genuinely enjoys playing, and love cheering him on from the sidelines (I am his biggest fan, have always been and will always be). The best part, my oldest knows it. He knows that I will be right there for him no matter what happens. This doesn’t just stop at soccer, it extends to any and every aspect of his life.

Soccer Mom Status:

Can’t really say that I fit into the soccer mom stereotype. Not a fan of Starbucks, I don’t drive a large SUV, never wear a hat, my boys are in public school, I have throat and hand tattoos, and I am a working single mom. But I am middle-aged and white, so that counts for something right? (Got to love Urban Dictionary, the search results for soccer mom are comical to say the least). But as all soccer moms do, I have bought soccer mom swag and show up to the games decked out so no-one is confused as to who I am there to cheer on. Yeah, I’m that mom!

As the season came to a close, I thought about how I hyper focused on everything soccer over the last several weeks. Researching rules, moves, positions, calls, etc. Of all things soccer, the one that has stood out the most and has been stuck in my brain since the start of all this, is a simple soccer quote that I feel has a much bigger meaning in my own life:

Life’s about GOALS… and ASSISTS!

This quote is super cute and refers to scoring as the main way to win but also gives credit to the players that assisted in making the goal. The term assist in soccer refers to the player(s) that line up a play and/or make a pass that directly results in their teammate scoring a goal. In some cases, this is celebrated just as much as the actual goal.

This hit different and got me thinking how this applies to my life. This month (November) marks seventeen years consuming ZERO alcohol. That is seventeen years of me chasing goals I never thought I would score. And even more assists from those that God has placed in my life to help me get here – sometimes without even realizing it. My teammates are not obvious players, they don’t wear jerseys or have a team name. They are friends that check in on me and cheer on my nonsense, therapists that listen to my past traumas and teach me healthy thought processes, family – both blood and chosen, and sometimes they are strangers that show up and offer kindness not knowing how much it is needed.

If my life could be played out as a game where goals and assists are counted, my hope is that I take a shot on goal every time I have the ball, even if it means I miss. More importantly, I hope I am able to make as many assists as possible and cheer the loudest when someone else scores.

The Real Victory Is In The Assist:

To everyone that has ever passed me the ball believing that I could score, even when I didn’t – I see you, I thank you, and it is because of you that I am still in the game.

If you or someone you know is struggling with alcoholism, support is available! Click arrow for more info.

First know that you are not alone. Many people struggle with addiction and there are a lot of resources out there. Below are a couple national resources to get you started but there are local ones around you, you just have to reach out and look for them.
I’m here cheering you on from the sidelines! You can do it!
AA.org 
SAMHSA’s Helpline 

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– sorry NOT sorry –

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