Why I know nothing about soccer and still love it!

I'm a soccer mom. I have no idea how that is because my daughter has been playing for 6 years now, and I still know zero about soccer. I try. I really do. I yell "good ball" because that's what the other parents around me yell, and it sounds like they know what they're talking about. But really isn't it always a "good ball?" The ball doesn't change. It stays inflated and round. It's a good ball.

Truth. . . I don't even know what position my kid plays. People always ask that. "What position does she play?" And apparently you can't answer "one of the ones on the field." Caroline plays somewhere in the back by the goal. I've heard it called center back, and I've heard it called sweeper. Are they the same thing? I have no idea. I've gotten that far, and now she's on a new team and may play somewhere else. It's like starting from scratch.

I'm smart, and my lack of understanding is not due to a lack of effort. I've googled. I watched every single World Cup game this year. Every. Single. One. Do you know how much of my life that was?!

I may not know when someone's offsides or when it's a corner kick vs. a goal kick, but I'll gladly spend my entire weekend sweating to death under the Texas sun to watch her play because I see soccer teaching her so much more than how to play a sport. It has taught her how self sacrifice for the greater good ends in victory for all and how hard work and sweat directly translates to success. I see it teaching her how to build up other girls and to cheer for, and not against, each other. I see her learning that her body is so much more than the way it looks, and that she is strong, fierce, and able. I am overwhelmed at the way she marvels at the strength of their thighs and never wishes them to have a thigh gap and how she is astounded by the explosive power of her rear end and never wishes it was smaller. I can teach my daughters so many life lessons, but there are some that they will learn better on the field, surrounded by their teammates and from their amazing coaches. For that I will endure humidity and heat in August any day.

And for the record. . . how cute was she as a munchkin player?!