By Tee (BGV Blogger and Multi-Sport/Multi-Kid Mom)
So, I realize this site and blog is geared toward volleyball parents and players; by now you can see my plate is pretty full with just my oldest playing competitive school and club volleyball, but that’s just a fraction of my life. I’m actually a working mom of THREE kids – my oldest plays volleyball (for now, she’s looking like she could be a pretty good tennis player too); my youngest daughter plays recreational soccer and volleyball (with dreams of playing travel soccer) and then my youngest kid plays recreational soccer and basketball (who knows what he’ll hone in on…he’s only eight!)
And I do this as a divorced mom; my ex-husband doesn’t live in the area so I can’t exactly divide and conquer. I have an awesome support system of friends and my mom, but I rarely pull them into my madness because candidly, I feel like I signed up for this, not them.
So you can imagine, I’m constantly on the go and almost every week I have a conflict. When we started club volleyball, there would be weeks when I would cry because I didn’t know if I was coming or going. But as I learn tomanage this “multi-kid, multi-sport” thing, I’m finding things a little easier than they were two years ago. I will never have this perfected and people may even judge the decisions I make and why…heck, I even wonder at times! A few things I keep in mind to keep my sanity:
- Life isn’t going to be fair all of the time. I think my biggest struggle is the time we invest in volleyball-related “stuff” over other things. Club in particular is a commitment of money, real dollars and with that sometimes a club volleyball game will trump a recreational basketball game for another kid. That said its instances like this when I ask for help from my support squad, but there are still very rare occasions when things can’t be helped. I’m doing a better job of not beating myself up when we can’t make everything all of the time.
- Everyone is getting older! And thank goodness! Two years ago, I couldn’t imagine leaving my younger daughter at a practice to take my oldest to a school game so I would literally drive across town twice over. Now, my younger daughter is more responsible, I have a great relationship with her coach and it makes life more bearable. I light at the end of the tunnel is a bit brighter (and my oldest will start driving soon and she can help out too!)
- I don’t beat myself up as much. When I can’t make someone’s game for whatever reason, I’ve stopped getting upset about it. I can’t divide my body in thirds to be everything to everyone. I give everyone plenty of notice when there’s a conflict.
- I LOVE watching my kids play! I know everyone believes their kids are pretty good, natural born athletes, etc. but mine really are (lol) and much like I love watching them perform in school plays, play music and sing, I thoroughly enjoy watching them develop in sports. There’s nothing like seeing my oldest make a kill, my younger daughter save a goal or my son block a shot.
And because of this, I do what I do and wouldn’t have it any other way. These years are fleeting…I’m going to enjoy them now (I can rest when I retire!)
