Don't get me wrong, I have absolutely nothing against soccer moms.  I admire the huge commitment of enrolling children into any sport that demands weekly practices on school nights and having to give up about a dozen Saturday mornings, per season.

[folds like a three-legged coffee table]

So, we signed three (out of four) of our children up for soccer and I have a standing order of an extra-large vanilla chai at Dunkin' Donuts - let the practices begin!

Truth be told, it's been a very enjoyable experience so far - except for dragging my butt out to the soccer fields for those 8:30 a.m. games - but, I have managed to balance this new way of life, wonderfully.

[lies like a cheap rug]

Okay, I've resorted to calling in a few car-pooling favors, while paying my 13-year-old her sideline baby-sitting wages of $10 per hour and a medium-sized hot white chocolate.

It's well worth the few moments of peace I get from cheering one of my children on, yes?

To better appreciate what happens next, I have to describe how funny my 11-year-old daughter is playing offense -- she'll have control of the ball and, when an opposing team member gets in her way and wants the ball, she stops and politely gives it up.

Her father and I have worked with her on this.

"Yes, you are allowed to be impolite in soccer - take the ball; protect the ball; be the ball!"

The moment came when my daughter was playing defense and the ball came dangerously close to our goal and I prayed.

"Please don't let them score on her watch!"

Three opposing team players were running at full throttle toward the goal and I saw her eyes go as wide as saucers.

[bites tongue]

I couldn't bare to watch, but didn't dare to turn away, and I was shaking in anticipation when she finally pulled her right foot back and gave the ball such a whack, that it flew high and straight over the heads of the oncoming players.

Then, it happened.

"Way to go...that's my baby out there...can she kick or can she kick!?!"

I looked around at all the other moms (and dads) who were obviously as dumb-founded by the fact that I had indeed found my voice, as I was.


I quietly sat down in my folding chair, gave a big old "thumbs up" to our goalie, took a sip of my tea and simply accepted the fact that I was officially "a soccer mom!"

[heavy sigh]

You know what else?

[scoring winning goal]

It's not so bad, on this side of the goal line, anyway!

GO TEAM!