Sports Moms- We want to develop friendships with other moms, but can we really?
I have had to utter those words a few times in my day. Okay, so not those exact words, but definitely something to that effect. The truth is no matter how great we hit if off, how well we get along, or how much we have in common, unless you’re a sports mom like me, we likely cannot be friends.
Hear me out-I want to be your friend. I would love to spend time getting to know you! Grabbing a quick lunch or coffee with a new friend sounds like lots of fun. If it wasn’t because the only time I have left in the day after all of my responsibilities is used for brushing my teeth and occasionally my hair, then trust me, we’d be besties. But alas, I’m a sports mom…
My kid’s sports are all year long. Between 9U select baseball, a sophomore playing high school ball, and the little one in tackle football my calendar is pretty much booked solid. Baseball tournaments are a minimum 3 to 5 games per weekend in the All Star season. During the regular season I am at the fields 2 to 3 more times weekly for games and practices. Football puts a special spin on it all with 4, 2.5 hour practices per week, plus Saturday games. Toss in a job, a home and family to run, this blog, and I can hardly get to the shower, let alone a lunch date with a girlfriend.
IT’S NOT ALL WORK
Sports families are very tight though, how can they not be? We spend endless hours together, week in and week out. Either at the fields, or at some pizza place celebrating a win or team milestone. Oftentimes, the team and their families assemble at someone’s home for a few burgers and some swimming. We are blessed with being a part of great teams, and have a blast together.
CAN YOU RELATE?
My fellow sports mamas get it. Only another sports mom can understand why I haven’t been able to finish the load of laundry I started last Tuesday, or why the tub hasn’t been cleaned in 3 weeks. Only another sports mom can relate with the frustration of scrubbing those game pants gleaming white, for the glorious 5 minutes that they can stay that way, before the first grass stain of the day. Only another sports mom can understand the anguish of having to miss the first inning because of another child’s equally important soccer game. Only another sports mom can understand the pain of watching your kid get benched, fumble the ball, or strike out. It hurts, it is a big deal, and only another sports mom can feel that. It’s so easy to become kindred with those living similar lives to our own. As if you’re living in a different universe that only parents with kids in competitive sports can fully comprehend.
Of course I do miss socializing outside of the sports parenting world. But can a non-sports mom really ‘get’ the season of life I am in right now? Likely not, and that’s perfectly okay! I know that this is only for a short time, and it’ll go lightning fast. The kiddos will grow, I won’t be a sports mom forever. It’s sacrificing my needs for that of theirs, and that is what I am called to do in this life.
Before I know it, I will once again have time for more socialization, and to develop friendships with people who want to talk about something other than our kid’s games. For now though, I am a sports mama, I want to be your friend, but honestly, you may not want to be mine! That’s okay, we’re in different stages of life and I know neither one of us would trade it for anything in the world.
Barbara is the mom behind the blog. She began writing in 2012 as the creator of Hello Life, a craft & lifestyle blog. As life evolved, and her kids became more involved in sports, she aimed to create a site that would resonate with moms like her, and in 2017 Modern Sports Mom was born. Like many of today’s mamas, she loves being creative, cooking, and fashion, and when there are a few minutes to spare, a good book. A baseball and football mom, she is fueled by her strong faith, dedication to her family, and coffee. Lots and lots of coffee! Barbara lives in California with her husband, kids, dog, and cat.
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