The Journal of an Honest Mom

Okay.

It is hard being a former athlete and watching your children be… unathletic.

There. I said it.

And listen, my kids are young. I KNOW.

They have plenty of time. Coordination develops. Athletic ability develops. They could all turn out to be fantastic athletes one day.

I understand all of that.

But right now?

It is very sad and borderline embarrassing to watch. 😂

I was an athlete growing up. That was a huge part of my childhood.

Am I athletic now?

Absolutely not.

I left that somewhere in my youth and apparently had no intentions of bringing it with me.

My husband, however, seemed to pack a carry-on of athleticism for his flight into adulthood.

He can still play.

So I really thought between the two of us we had this covered.

Surely these children were going to have something.

And then I watch them play.

Oh, bless it.

Sometimes I just want to help SO badly.

Watch the ball.

Move your feet.

Why are you standing like that?

Why did you run THAT way?

The ball is over HERE.

And obviously I don’t want to be that parent. They’re little. They’re learning. They’re having fun. That is what actually matters.

I know.

I know.

But there is still a tiny former athlete living somewhere inside of me watching all of this happen and she is struggling.

Meanwhile, my child is completely oblivious.

Missed the ball entirely.

Didn’t even come close.

Having the time of his life.

And there I am wondering how two athletic people produced this particular moment.

Maybe it is coming.

Maybe one day everything will click and suddenly they’ll be running and catching and throwing and I’ll wonder why I ever questioned them.

Or maybe it won’t.

Maybe sports won’t be their thing.

And that is fine.

I mean it.

It really is.

They don’t have to be good at the things I was good at. They don’t have to love the things I loved. Part of being their mom is getting to watch them figure out what their thing is.

It just might take the former athlete in me a minute to accept it.

Especially while I watch a ball slowly roll past my child while he just… watches it go.

Buddy.

PLEASE.

😂