At long last, waiting is no longer our kids’ only team sport

“Because I Said So” column for The Commercial Appeal

March 31, 2011

In my earlier days, I played for the St. Louis Cardinals. I was young, yet showed some promise. I weathered a few minor injuries, but kept at it and worked hard. I gave all I had for my team and our fans.

Of course I’m talking about playing soccer at the elementary parochial school in East Memphis. I always meant to try for something more, for a shot at a bigger show, but I never did get around to it.

My daughter, Somerset, recently joined a soccer team, a pretty big deal in our home. Of all the things we’ve only talked about doing in our years as parents, somewhere near the top of that list is getting our kids involved in team sports.

You might say that the team sport my wife, Kristy, and I excel in is procrastinating. “Field trip permission slip? I’ll sign it later. Social studies project? I think your mother is picking up some poster board tomorrow. Dinner? Soon … .”

Well, we’ve finally done it. Somerset is now a running and kicking member of the Second Baptist Bumblebees, a swarm of 8-year-old girls in shinguards.

So we’ll scratch that off our parental to-do list. Later … (read more)