Molly's Last (Tough) Year of Soccer

Molly's Senior soccer year is winding down, and her soccer career in general is coming to a close. 

She is ready. I am ready. 

She has enjoyed playing soccer throughout her years in and out of school. She has delighted in playing since she was young, and we have delighted in watching her play. But not every year has been easy. 

This year in particular Molly faced many challenges. Because of her tonsil issue and emergency tonsillectomy, Molly missed the whole first two weeks of practices and games. This put her out of the loop for that time. I had issues with her coach about missing practices and dr notes, which I think was entirely ridiculous and unnecessary. And because she missed two weeks of practices and games, even when she was able to get back to soccer, she was behind where the other girls were at, and gaining her momentum back as her body and immune system worked to recover was slow. 

Against what I believe is right, coaches have favorites. Molly has never been a coache's favorite. Her medical issues and her inability to play up to her coache's wishes because of this made her decidedly NOT the coache's favorite this year. Molly could feel this. She was on the receiving end of this. Fuck that. 

Naturally humans have good days, and they have bad days. Instead of the coach being curious, empathetic, and supportive, asking about a bad day and an off attitude that was out of the norm, yelling and calling her out in front of everyone seemed the better choice. To the point where she was crying on the field. They the coaches knew they had been over the top and were in the wrong....cause one wound up coming up to her and apologizing afterwards. 

If there is one thing you need to know about my kids, it's that they give what they get. Respect for anyone is earned, and not just given because you are an adult. Yell at her on the field because she said she felt unwell and could only give 70% that day? Then when I wrote asking for clarification on what happened, tell me Molly had an attitude and that's why? 

LOL That was a fun exchange.

Adults need to be doing better. Coaches need to be doing better. Do better or don't fucking be a coach. 

ANYWAY. 

Despite Molly's feelings towards her coaches and how she was being treated....and despite what I wanted to say to these coaches.....we pushed through. Molly kept her head down and did her shit, for herself and for her team. Not for her coaches. I'm disappointed her Senior year playing had to be enveloped in this black cloud, but it is what it is. We have to let things go. We need to be better through example. 

She still did her best and kicked ass.

 

Last night was Senior night. This is where the Seniors are presented and honored for their time on their team. Usually gift baskets are made for them. 

Because they won their game last night, I believe they will have one more game to play. If they had lost, this would have been the team's last game. 

We have always been very proud of Molly and her perseverance. Not every year has been easy. Not every coach has been amazing. Soccer has grown her strength in remaining realistic and down to earth. She remains steadfast, keeping her head up and sticking to her morals and who she is, despite challenges. Soccer isn't life, certainly not high school soccer, despite what any high school coach thinks. Remaining resilient against the pressure to be a coach/people pleaser I think is her biggest win. 

Sometimes authority can just fucking suck it. 

Life does not peak in high school. Life get so much bigger and better outside of high school.  She has remembered this little nugget of information all throughout the issues she has faced, and we are very proud of Molly for it. 

Let's wrap this season up, girl, and fucking move on. 

With love,

Mama Hauck

Curfman's

Yesterday we met up with my friend Kristen and her boys and we all went to Curfman's Corn Maze out of Toppenish. Typically we go to Packer's Orchard in Hood River, but we decided to change things up. 

As the kids get older, it's felt harder to go places and find things to do that cater to older kids and what they deem fun. We love Packers because they have a great pumpkin patch and shop full of food and goodies, but they are expensive, the corn maze has sucked the past few years, and everything is geared for little kids. Curfman's is known for their great corn maze, and even does hauntings at night. They are more reasonably priced admission wise, and have food. They have fire pits you can sit around that elevate the experience, but they don't have a "shop" and don't have an actual pumpkin patch. The pumpkins are just gathered in one area for you to go through. 

It's really hard to find a place that offers everything you want. Or maybe I'm just picky? And I don't think it's possible to find someplace older kids will deem "fun" anymore. They don't often want to participate in things much anymore. Which completely breaks my heart and has been very difficult for me to cope with. It took all I had to convince Molly to come....and the only reason she did was because her friend came with. 

They all seemed to have an ok time, or at least fake it and tolerate me making them go at least. 

Because Kristen underwent hip surgery not that long ago, I knew she wasn't going to be up for the corn maze. Instead of joining Sam and the boys, she and I sat around one of the fire pits and hung out. After the boys made it through the maze, we all got some food. Basically our experience was convincing the boys to go down the slide once, having them go through the maze, and then eating snacks by a camp fire. I'm not sure it was worth the hour drive and $10 per person admission, but it was something to do, and the weather has remained warm and gorgeous so far this month, so that's a plus.

This is probably the last fall I will ask the kids to do something all together. Molly will be leaving for whatever college she chooses next Aug/Sept. With just Tim at home then, we will probably just ask him what fall fun he wants to do and base our outings around him. If he doesn't want to do anything, then for real Sam and I will just go ourselves, lol. 

There are times I wish I could go back in time to when my kids were little. Fall is one of those times. I'd give anything to experience the fun of a pumpkin patch and trick-or-treating with them again. 

Parenting teenagers has been kicking my ass recently. Still I smile and forge on. 

With love,

Mama Hauck

Anthony's Bike Ride

After getting his bike all fixed up and running, taking his motorcycle safety class and doing the work to receive his motorcycle license, Anthony loaded his bike up on a friend's trailer and took it down to Ellensburg with him. 

He's enjoyed riding his bike around campus and becoming more familiar with riding. 

Recently, my cousin Corey, who also has a bike, made the trip from the Seattle area down to Ellensburg to ride with Anthony. From what I hear, they had an amazing ride! Corey even got him a little mic they could talk to each other on while they rode. That's pretty dang cool. 

I am so very thankful there are people in my life who take the time to show up for my kids with love and support. Coming to visit Anthony and ride with him was such a meaningful gesture of comradery. 

You can never have too many people in your corner. 

A private pilot license AND a motorcycle license? My son is definitely cooler than I will ever be. 

Of course, both of these are new fears unlocked for me to have to cope with. What do you mean you are thousands of feet in the air going 130+ flying a plane? And now a motorcycle too? It's almost too much for my Mama heart to take. Sometimes I have to just not think about it. He promises he is always putting his safety first. And he does have to do things that bring him happiness and joy in this otherwise very hard world to live in. *sigh* 

Just be safe, baby, so you can always come home to me. 

With love,

Mama Hauck