It's a crazy last week before we take off for the holidays. There's a tremendous amount of work to be done at the office, plus a bunch of family stuff on the agenda.
In positive news, both boys made the school soccer team. It's very competitive, and this was a great outcome for both kids. Sam is going to stop playing club soccer, so this was a really good transition for him after a particularly hard season of club soccer. We selected our club for the kids because it was a good mix of player development (vs winning) & many of their friends attend. Nick's experience has been amazing throughout. Sam's experience has been really challenging. This past season was the end for us. A few of the parents feel that some of the kids (mine included) are holding their kids back, and they haven't been shy about it. Their kids hear this at home, and are really negative with the kids at the lower end of the team. The coach is also much harsher as a style than I think Sam needs for his personality. (Nick, ironically, loves the harsh coaching & adores the coach.) Altogether, sports are supposed to be fun, positive, & focused on sportsmanship. We've crossed over that on Sam's team, so he won't be playing in the spring. It will be a huge identity shift for him, and he's struggling with it very much. (There's a bunch more as to why this became a decision that I've shielded him from, but it's a must do for us as parents.) I'm looking forward to some of the soccer drama dying down, but I will very much miss the great parents who were part of the team. The other parents. . . won't miss at all. ;-)
The school soccer season kicks off in earnest with two games this week, so I have to sort that out. Then I have a holiday dinner with my peers, at my manager's house on Thursday evening. And, we fly out super early on Friday morning. So, quite a lot going on! I need to be very productive this week. I'm mostly packed for the trip, all gifts are purchased, snacks and the like are in the bags & ready for the flights. It's mostly last minute stuff left that can't be packed ahead. I also have created a draft menu for our time on the coast, so hopefully I'll be reasonably organized. It's not totally locked in, mostly because I can't recall what we have in our freezer & pantry, so I need to go & inventory a bit before we finalize our plans.
Where are you at with your end of the year plans? Is this the crazy stretch, or are you mostly ready?
Mostly ready - we have an extremely busy work week until Saturday then Kid #2 flies in for the holidays and we shut down until after Christmas. Good for your boys on making the School soccer team - hopefully they won't put up with the parental crap that some parents think is ok
ReplyDeleteSome parents really think their kids are going to go pro. Give me a freaking break. They are 12. It should be fun. Sure, work hard, try your best, but good sportsmanship & teamwork above everything else.
DeleteEnjoy your time with kid #2, and the time off from work!
A quick question: Can I ask where you shop on the coast? I know the grocery store in town where your house is is quite expensive, but it's been long enough that I can't remember what is available in nearby towns, or where's the closest place to get to. We used to camp further south, and there was a Fred Meyer in Florence, but that's all I know.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, wishing you and yours a very merry Christmas - I know you'll enjoy your time together!
We usually shop in Costco (primary), Fred Meyer or Safeway for anything you can't get at Costco, and fill in at the small grocery store in town as a last resort. It's a super cute store, but the prices are really expensive. This year, we'll be coming from the airport, so we'll probably stop at the Costco in Hillsboro on the way. Normally we go to the one in Warrenton. It's a drive, but worth the time investment for the price savings.
DeleteLikewise - have a fabulous time with the family!
Whew, I have all the empathies for Sam. We attended a friend's kid's softball game and while they were cleaning up afterward, I watched a game for 5-6 year olds. Those parents were HIDEOUS. The kinds of things they were yelling would have been inappropriate at an adult game field, much less for small children! I can't fathom how they can be like that toward a game that simply doesn't matter, for kids. Kids of any age, honestly.
ReplyDeleteHarsh coaching I could handle, but those parents were so far out of line it put me right off team sports.
We are definitely in the AUGHHHH stretch! I'm still going to be working through the holidays because of the situation going on at work but at least we're mostly packed now and just need to do some more laundry to finish that off.
Club sports bring out some of the worst in parents. Watching adults getting kicked off the field in front of their kids because they disagree with a ref's call & can't stop yelling? Yeah. Or, another kid slapping an 11 year old in the face during the middle of the game? Yep. A full team walking off of the field during state cup because you think you should be able to foul more (this was at 9 years old). I've seen it all.
DeleteNick is absolutely in love with soccer, so we try to support him. He loves the challenge. He's learned a lot of great life lessons, but I'm happy we are now doing school soccer. The games are so quiet! And, peaceful! It's lovely & such a different experience.
Here's hoping you get everything sorted at work (& with laundry!) I'm looking forward to disconnecting starting tomorrow. I'm hoping for zero work pages. Fingers crossed!