Center mid

Driving home from the last game of fall 2015 soccer season, Ryker says:

“Center mid is a position with little fame.  In defense people cheer because you keep the ball from going in (the goal).  Forward you get the glory from scoring all the goals.  But the middle guy (midfield), they go unnoticed.”

Deep thoughts.

He further explains: “the middle guy works the hardest.  (They) run all over the field, and do ALL THE FREAKING HARD WORK.  All of it, for other people.  Seriously.”

And I felt for him.  In a deep, deep way.

We discussed that it is a team effort.  To get the ball down that big field and into the final destination – the right goal.  That the effort starts, and then builds, first goalie - then defense - then midfield - finally to forward.  Working together to win.

And they did.  U10 league champions.  Middle grin, my boy, at 8 years old.  Adorable.  

“But sometimes I just want to be the one, you know, who makes it (in the goal).”

I felt for him.  Honestly.  After a season of having a little sister who scored a ton of goals (Jovie)

And a little brother score 3 goals (1 in the wrong goal though!)

 he probably was just bummed.  Someday, maybe, he’ll get it.  That there is value in every position.  That sometimes, everyone feels like the centermid guy, sometimes forward, and sometimes defense.  It’s life.  But that you’ve got to just try your hardest in every position, because that is what makes you continually improve.

*****

As a mama, sometimes, most times, I feel like a center mid player.  The one who is the middle guy, working the hardest.  They run all over, and do ALL THE FREAKING HARD WORK.  All of it, for other people.  Seriously.”

 The constant hustle and bustle, behind the scenes work.  This work, that when done, often goes unnoticed.  But if undone, is very obvious.  For instance:

Food: grocery shopping, meal prep, lunch packing. 

Laundry: sorting, washing, folding

Bathrooms: keeping them clean, making sure we have necessities

Bookbags: packing lunches/waters, making sure schoolwork is done/signed.

All these things, when done keep our house functional.  But goodness, when I have a busy week, and the ball gets away, chaos.  Sheer chaos.

It can wear you down.  The constant doing of it all.  But life, as in the soccer game, the center mid can run and run.  But when they tire.  When they can’t dribble that ball up the field any longer, they make a smart move for the team, and pass the ball down the field, to the trusty forward, to help keep the game running in their favor.

I’m grateful for the gift of family.  For having a husband who is my teammate.  He’s there, without fail, most days, between 6 - 7pm.  When I’m worn and tired, he swoops in the door to wrangle kids – sometimes to soccer, sometimes just to finish showers/bath and tuck them in bed.  He takes over the ball, does some flashy juggling skills, and then with precision and perfection, he scores.  My day of working hard, trying to graciously dribble the ball up the field, to avoid making mistakes with these precious kiddos.  To be patient, and kind.  A full day of field running, and like that, in less than 20 minutes, he scores the goal at the end of the day.  Taking that limelight.  Their giggles as he tucks them in.  

But he’s not just the forward in our family.  He’s the defense too.  Willing to swoop in, and save the ball when I’m struggling.  Bringing home fountain soda, or just coming home so I can have a sanity run.  Yep, when the ball is about to go in our goal, he always saves it.  Just like in soccer, our family works best when everyone is in position.

I’m proud to be centermid.  I’m proud I have a stellar forward and defender to have my back.  I don’t need the limelight, (well, most of the time anyway).  The funny thing is, I’m sure my husband could easily say he feels like centermid too. 

It’s all perception. 

We’ve got this.  Always.