As I got older, being efficient became a higher priority for me. While the priority of doing things in a logical order without wasting time is great on paper, having children makes it extremely difficult. Have you ever “helped” your kids get ready for the school year that starts in August? How many times have you gone to the same stores because they “forgot” that they needed pencils, a new backpack, binders, folders, pens, paper, or some other supply? I thought the week before school was the worst. Then came football season. The football store now greets me personally when I walk in.
Gavin decided to make soccer his first sport at the young age of seven. I grew up playing other sports, but there seemed to be less violence in football than soccer, and keeping a giant metal bat away from kids wasn’t a bad idea either, so the prospect of Saturday mornings in the home court looked pretty good. at first.
When we signed him up for our local league at the community center, they gave us a list of things to buy at the soccer store. A t-shirt, some pads, a few items that would help if you wanted to practice on your own, a mouth guard, all the things you could hope for.
It started on our way to his first practice, “Dad, I forgot my shoes.” No problem, quickly stop at home, collect them and go out to practice. Upon arrival at our home, there are no keys where to be found. To the football store, a pair of boots, please.
On the way home from the first practice, we talked about how it went. She was looking for fun, challenges, maybe if she had a lot of luck shooting. Gavin’s assessment, “Timmy had really cool sweatbands.” We went to the football store to become proud owners of neon green sweatbands with black stripes.
By now you know where the story is going. Every practice, game, and tournament that followed required a stop for something. Who knew soccer jerseys came in so many different “cool” colors?
I never had a problem with any of the teams that protected or helped teach the sport. I even enjoyed buying things like whistles and rule books for the time Gavin thought refereeing might be fun.
In many ways, we came together around that football store. As it grew, the sizes increased. We moved from one part of the store to the next. I wish I had taken a picture of my son and I in the mirror the first time we walked into the store. We could have told the story of our lives through that one business.
It was never efficient, whether it was when we “had” to go or what we “had” to buy, but it was a great place to bond and grow. I have no idea how much money I spent over the years, but it was worth every penny for the time with my son and seeing the smile on his face.
