I'm 42 years old and I still love calling my Dad after I play soccer or hockey to talk to him about the game.
I tell him the score and the feeling of the contest: even, lopsided, contested, fair. If I'm lucky enough to score, I describe my goals in detail or my assists if they hold more merit, which they often do, as its the pass before the shot that sets up the play.
I wonder if this will ever end?
My desire to play hard and share the details with my Dad. I am the soccer and hockey Mom who puts on her own equipment instead of her kids' and pushes her own body for all its worth.
Call me selfish, but I'm not willing to give up my own athletics to make it all about my offspring.
One of Elias's ski instructors said, "Oh, so your the selfish one," when I left Nick to learn about tethering Elias, as I turned towards the chairlift on my own.
I told him later that these few hours on a Saturday, when I know Elias is cared for and challenged and entertained and answered to by competent adults, other than me, well, call me selfish, but I'm going to ski on my own.
I work as a counselor in my son's school and never get to hang my Mom Hat on a hook, so when I can tear down the slopes, kick a soccer ball, or chase a small round puck around a rink, well, then, that's my time.
If Olive asks to play hockey, we'll let her, but I'm not going to push her towards the rinks so I can stand and watch. I'm not defining my self-worth from her accomplishments; and I won't over-schedule my children into activities so I'm forced to put my desires on the shelf as I turn into support staff for their successes.
I want to play too.
This weekend Nick and I got to play hockey on a team together for the first time in years in the first annual Scotty Gomez Pond Hockey Classic, held at Goose Lake in Anchorage.
And I loved it.
(Post game beers with our teammate. friend and neighbor Justin)
I love my children, you know I do, and I love my time away, where I am the kid, playing hard, and longing to call my Dad at the end of it all to tell him the details of my day.
And I hope this never ends.
Oh Christy, I love this.
Posted by: Amanda | 03/09/2015 at 03:14 AM
Dad hopes you never stop calling and describing all your highlights!
Posted by: Mom and Dad | 03/09/2015 at 05:14 AM
Never change! Your happiness both fuels your kids happiness and continues to inspire them!
Posted by: Lee | 03/09/2015 at 12:51 PM
Awesome!!!!!
Posted by: Toni | 03/10/2015 at 07:56 AM
It is NOT selfish to take care of ourselves! In fact, I find that if I don't make it a priority to take care of me, then I don't do it! And then I am NOT the kind of mom I want and need to be for my 11 yo son with autism - or my older kids (who are now adults! at 18 and 21, but guess what, they do still need part of me!). Feeling grrrrrrr at that comment just now...
Posted by: Tracy | 03/10/2015 at 09:14 AM
If everyone knew what fed their soul, like sports do for you, and they made it a priority to DO that thing... just think how much happier, healthier, and more productive the whole world would be! You set a great example for all of those who get so caught up in giving we forget to step away and rejuvenate. Martyrdom isn't the path to a good life. Feeding our souls is.
Play on!
Posted by: Louise | 03/10/2015 at 07:14 PM
Oh, and DUH, CENTERED, obviously. ;-)
Posted by: Louise | 03/10/2015 at 07:15 PM
I think of it like the airline oxygen masks, you have to put yours on first to be able to help take care of others!
Posted by: Kelly Osher | 03/11/2015 at 11:11 AM
I was able to forgive the selfish comment (sort of after stewing on it) bc the man who said it just doesn't get it, I don't believe he has children so he can't understand the inaccuracy of his words. We all know we are better parents when we fuel ourselves first, yes, like the oxygen masks on planes:) Thanks all for getting it and for your support!
Posted by: Christy | 03/12/2015 at 04:59 PM
Well said Christy, I like to read your posts and updates. I love everyone of them. I admire you as the person you are. And selfish? No way, you deserve to have a time of your own. Enjoy doing what you like and are passionate about! Love you
Silvana
Posted by: silvana | 03/13/2015 at 09:17 AM
The best blog ever for you and your darling husband. You two are the best parents ever and even more so that you take time for the two of you- your children need that just as much!!!
Can't wait to catch up with your parents on the 31st when they stay with me for two days
XOX
Posted by: Noel Dennehy | 03/18/2015 at 05:08 PM