There is one thing that I am very adept at and that is leaping into things without cleverly assessing the obstacles that lurk ahead.
For example, the first time I went rollerblading I provided great entertainment for my sister Michele as I launched forward on my blades down a paved mountain road, diving off to the side to save myself from dying only to result in huge gravel encrusted raspberries scrapes.
Then there was the time that my “good friend” Jeff Rogers took me snowboarding for the first time, convincing me that lessons were for “wa wa’s”. I flew down the mountain feeling like a champion until THWAM! And the lights went out. I came to with tears streaming out of my eyes, a slight concussion and a whiplashed neck that to this day gives me pain. One would think that with age would come wisdom but not for this puppy.
Growing up, May was a magical month with cherry blossoms blooming and horsey ride birthday parties but with my son’s passion for Lacrosse, my birthday and Mother’s Day are swept to the wayside to accommodate the weekend Lacrosse Tournaments that are held that same weekend, every year.
Lacrosse was the popular sport of my high school where not a single Wagoneer with wooden paneling would drive by without the bumper sticker, “chicks love our sticks,” plastered to the back. I was a big fan, hanging out on the sidelines with my girlfriends to drool over the shirtless boys practicing after school. Now it is my boys who are playing and I am on the sidelines, this time actually paying attention to the game and cheering them on.
Two years ago, when I found out that Wade couldn’t come to Brevitt’s big Lacrosse Tournament in Denver, I decided to make that treacherous leap and take the three boys to the Tournament by myself, one of the stupidest decisions I have ever made in my life.
My very poor dyslexic navigational skills were in short circuit and I got lost every time we left the hotel. I was in full survival mode without the proper tools to get me by.
The parking lot alone at the Lacrosse fields was treacherous with hundreds of vehicles making abrupt maneuvers to steal a coveted parking spot. Once we parked I had to face the impossible challenge of finding the correct field.
Wade’s parents lived nearby and were my saving grace, guiding me to the field every game. Drenched in a panicked sweat, their dysfunctional daughter-in-law would arrive and dump their enormous sleeping two and a half year old grandson, Tucker, into their laps along with all of the Lacrosse equipment, all the while attempting to unsuccessfully conceal my inefficiencies so that they wouldn’t get too concerned that I was an inadequate wife to their son and mother to their grandsons.
I was in a living hell and getting madder by the minute that my other “friends,” all well seasoned in the routine, chose to not recognize that I needed help. I whirled in like the Tasmanian Devil, teeth nashing, with three disheveled boys. As soon as we would jump into the freezing pool, my lounging, mojito drinking “friends”, whose calmness was beginning to get on my nerves, would begin to round up their kids for the next game, giving me the sign that I should do the same. By the end of the weekend, I promised myself to search for a new set of more caring friends when I returned home.
For the last game, we were later than usual and Brevitt could not find his cup, “it’s this or we go home,” I yelled, ready to commit Hari Kari, and he ran off in tears with the top of my coffee mug tucked into his shorts for protection.
May is here once again and we just returned from our first Tournament away in Grand Junction. Things went a whole lot smoother this time and I was all to happy to no longer be a rookie in the world of kid sports.
Over the weekend, I looked but did not see anybody who needed saving but I’m guessing that most mother’s are far smarter than I and know to stay at home when the odds are so greatly against them.
Jillian's Real Life 
This brings back anxious memories of my boys playing Southern tennis. We traveled to tournaments across the South. I am not a good traveler and have no sense of direction. But somehow I always managed to find my way in spite of sweaty palms, loose bowels, and paralyzing panic attacks. My heart goes out to you, Jilly. Hang in there, my friend.
.-= Darrelyn Saloom´s last blog ..Say Goodbye to the Starving Artist Mentality =-.
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Oy – I dread what lies ahead with my boys – I have enough trouble getting them to li’l kickers soccer class!! Sounds like you are a pro, though!
Peryl
.-= Parenting ad absurdum´s last blog ..The Very Best Advice =-.
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Hayden is playing Lacrosse!!! Two pracices a week and a game on Sundays. His game will interfere with mothers day for us as well. (ooops…Mommy bought tickets to a play on Sunday in Hartford….)
Hayden does not like the whole idea of “cups” Mostly because he does not understand the importance to them. (god help me when I have to explain about sex!)
He is a good little player. His games are all local so we do not have the drama of having to travel and stay in hotels.
I still have pictures I took from high school of all the adorable boys we had crushes on playing lacrosse. Wearing helmets (and cups) disguises any imperfection to the crush!
Jazz Festival in New Orleans was once again amazing. Saw the best bands. Pearl Jam was just beyond incredible. Eddie Vedder had the US Marines on Satalite in Irac on a huge screen that was just a huge tear jerker.
I jumped around and danced and sang with him (hoping to be noticed..ha ha) Who actually did notice me was a 29 year old….who was drinking “water” I was sooooo thirsty and he offered me his water bottle….I chugged it..and it was filled with straight vodka! I was dared to kiss him…… (another story!)
Remember when we went to Tippytinas with Michele, Tucker, Peter etc….. I was dragged there at 2 am to hear a great band with horns…they are new….unbelievable and who made a surprise appearance…REM. I was in heaven!!! Michael Stipe was standing behind me the whole time!!! If i only knew….SECURITY!!!!
Am I not to old for these antics?!
Where does Lacrosse fit into all this?
Hayden has lacrosse practice this evening and there is thunder storm warnings running across TV screen. Hmmmmmmm
Next year…we are going to new Orleans and right about it (except what happens there is supposed to stay there!)
Love you
xoxo
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Mouse, Brevitt will bring his Lacrosse stick to Nantucket and they can all practice together, away from Mommy’s windows. It will be strange to not have you be in your house that I loved.
Glad to see that you are still jumping around when you dance, we have to go to the Chicken Box this summer and do some body slamming. Get the schedule and we can go when Wade and Michele are there, we’ll force her.
Also glad to see that men are still “Making out with Melanie.” Start your book and we’ll put the stories on my blog to get you excited about it. We’ll make each other famous and buy Mommy a castle in Switzerland where she can put all of her boyfriends.
I do remember Tippitinas and I want to come back. When Michele heard that you were in New Orleans she said that we should have gone with you. Beat that! She has it in her still also. Maybe next year we can go and celebrate all of our birthdays there. I’ll get us a writing gig like you say.
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Hayden is playing Lacrosse!!! Two pracices a week and a game on Sundays. His game will interfere with mothers day for us as well. (ooops…Mommy bought tickets to a play on Sunday in Hartford….)Hayden does not like the whole idea of “cups” Mostly because he does not understand the importance to them. (god help me when I have to explain about sex!)He is a good little player. His games are all local so we do not have the drama of having to travel and stay in hotels.I still have pictures I took from high school of all the adorable boys we had crushes on playing lacrosse. Wearing helmets (and cups) disguises any imperfection to the crush!Jazz Festival in New Orleans was once again amazing. Saw the best bands. Pearl Jam was just beyond incredible. Eddie Vedder had the US Marines on Satalite in Irac on a huge screen that was just a huge tear jerker.I jumped around and danced and sang with him (hoping to be noticed..ha ha) Who actually did notice me was a 29 year old….who was drinking “water” I was sooooo thirsty and he offered me his water bottle….I chugged it..and it was filled with straight vodka! I was dared to kiss him…… (another story!)Remember when we went to Tippytinas with Michele, Tucker, Peter etc….. I was dragged there at 2 am to hear a great band with horns…they are new….unbelievable and who made a surprise appearance…REM. I was in heaven!!! Michael Stipe was standing behind me the whole time!!! If i only knew….SECURITY!!!!Am I not to old for these antics?!Where does Lacrosse fit into all this?Hayden has lacrosse practice this evening and there is thunder storm warnings running across TV screen. HmmmmmmmNext year…we are going to new Orleans and right about it (except what happens there is supposed to stay there!)Love youxoxo
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