Category: sports

Soccer Season is Here

Posted on by Tikeetha T

Yay! Can you tell I’m excited? Munch is on a new team and practice began this week. I can’t wait. I ordered a custom soccer shirt to represent him at his games. Yeah, I know I’m pressed, but I’m a mom. What do you expect?

Zeta Soccer Shirt

I have learned to love soccer. Not because Munch is an exceptional player, but the benefits of teamwork. Munch can play, but if he doesn’t want to play I don’t push him. I tell him to pick one sport, any sport, and he will have to commit to a season. Being an only child I need him to experience both teamwork and the winning and losing of games. He needs to know that life is not fair and he will win some and lose some. Soccer helps him with that.

It’s funny though because when he was on a team that made it to the finals and then lost in the first game, everyone cried but Munch. It was a pretty crushing defeat. My sweet boy was more concerned about his snacks and said “I’m not upset because coach said we should have a good time. I did. So, I’m okay.” Yep – out of the mouth of babes.

Munch’s coach this year is a woman and he’s on a co-ed team. Super excited because we’ve never had a woman coach and you know I’m all about that girl power.  I reached out to her to let her know that I will help out in any way possible. They also use the Sports Illustrated app which is new to me, but I’m going to learn to adjust.  Thank God the kid doesn’t need new cleats this year. I’ve had to buy new cleats due to his foot growing for the last 4 years. Woohoo! Win for me.

I’m trying to match up the uniforms and socks exactly. It’s a pet peeve to not be matching, but we’ll see if I can do it. Munch is not to ecstatic. He thought he needed more time. I reminded him that Spring started on March 20th and games are rapidly approaching. He reluctantly agreed.

Oh, and in other news that is not soccer related, Munch’s main teacher has returned to school after being on administrative leave since mid-September. You heard that right. School ends June 9th and he returned on March 28th. Let’s see how the kids adjust. I’m super excited because I truly like this man, but I have to give it to the long-term substitute teacher…she did that thing. She was encouraging, nurturing and really interested in making sure that her children understood the curriculum. She responded to my emails and she will be missed.

 

Want to keep in touch? You can find me on social media at the following links:  Twitter @mskeeinmd, Facebook page A Thomas Point of View and my Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/mskeeinmd/.

Little Wins

Posted on by Tikeetha T

Monday I walked into aftercare to pick up Munch to take him to soccer practice. He runs, gives me a hug and I lean down to kiss him and smile. He grabs his stuff and I’m listening to my girlfriend talk and he interrupts…”Mommy, who are you talking to? Mr. C? My daddy? Auntie Nikki?” he questioned. “None of your business Munch. Stop checking my call log and remember you’re 7 and I’m 41” I told him.

I laughed and realized that my son is now starting to pay attention to me and everything I do. I don’t know when this happened, but me noticing it now puts me in a different position to make sure that everyone knows that my child is in the car when having conversations and that I stop talking when he walks into a room. He’s now interested in my life. When did that happen?

After soccer practice, I headed to McDonald’s to grab him dinner and he asked, “Wow, you’re going to get me McDonald’s?” “Yes, Munch. I don’t feel like cooking. I’m cooking tomorrow and Wednesday so this is the only meal you will eat out” I replied. “Okay, Mommy” he said. He then said something that made me smile. He said “Mommy, I just can’t tell you how much I love. I love you so very much. You’re the best mommy in the world and I’m so lucky to have you.”

I love that. Little things. Little wins.

More BBQ, Soccer and the Dang Heat

Posted on by Tikeetha T

So, munch had his soccer BBQ to honor those who participated in Spring Soccer last week and it was hot. The humidity felt oppressive and I almost died from heat exhaustion. Okay, maybe not but you get the picture right? It was hot. Dang June in Maryland.

Munch was more concerned about the moon bounce than the heat and was drenched. They ran out of water which made me mad, but thankfully my girlfriend’s husband went and got us some. Crisis averted!

Some parents were out there playing soccer with their kids, but since it was too hot and I’m too old, I just sat in my chair watching munch in the moon bounce. He really isn’t into sports when it comes to a moon bounce. Moon bounces will win every time. I’m not sure about fall soccer, but we will see.

The coach gave a brief intro about each player and when he introduced munch he said, “This player is more concerned about having fun and will always ask me at the end of each game or practice, Coach how did I do today.”
I knew he was referring to munch and I laughed. My baby has no competitive spirit. His spirit is about fun. Oh well!

Here are some photos from this season including his soccer trophy:

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Third Times a Charm

Posted on by Tikeetha T

Last week munch took his swim test and unfortunately he failed again. Now, munch is in Youth Level 3 swim class at the local swim center and he can’t seem to get it together. This was his second attempt at swim and he missed more things on the swim card than last time.

When he climbed out the pool and ran over with his card, I already knew he had failed. How could I have known? Well, he couldn’t tread water for one minute. He was exhausted and had to stop twice. He couldn’t tread water and then do the breaststroke for 25 yards. It was like watching the first day of Level 1 swim class. He was struggling. He was out of breath.

But, I’m a good mommy. I kept putting my thumbs up and smiling every time he looked over at me. Why? Because he’s six and he needs my encouragement and support to not give up. He’s not crying (there was actually a little boy crying). He’s not acting like he’s going to drown (yep, this little girl refused to jump in because she was too afraid) and most importantly, he’s not giving up.

So, when I told him that he failed and would have to take it again, he started to cry. I said, “Munch, third time is a charm. We will get this. It’s not a race. You just have to develop your technique to move to the next level.” Lots of kisses to his face and I knew he would be fine.

Later though, I realized that it was probably my fault that he failed too. I fixed him a big breakfast 3 hours before class (hey, he said he was hungry) and when he took off his sweats and stood by the pool, I noticed that his belly was distended. More than normal. He looked like a starving child in a third world country. Ugh, no wonder he was exhausted. His belly was weighing him down.

Lesson learned.

stomach
Not Munch’s actual stomach. This is a dramatization.

 

A Great Man

Posted on by Tikeetha T

Our life’s journey is about the people that touch us – Stuart Scott

I’m not a sports fan. I don’t get into sports. But I’ve always been around sports. My brother is a sports fan. My ex is a sports fan and apparently every man I know likes sports. So, I know some things about sports (although reluctantly). I know what ESPN is. I know who Stuart Scott was and I am saddened by his death.

Stuart Scott died earlier this week on January 4th when he lost his battle to cancer. He was 49. He was an incredible sports anchor, a father, a son and a brother. Many other roles would describe this man. Too many to name, but know that he was a cool dude by many standards.

I  remember the first time I heard him say his signature “Boo- Yah” and almost died. I never knew people talked like that on television. I was witnessing a trailblazer. He was that man who had “swag” whether it be from anchoring at the desk or in his interviews. He was a rarity.

So, when I decided I wanted to write this piece to honor a great man it came as a surprise to me to learn so many things about Stuart Scott. ESPN did a great job. Thanks to the internet you can see old interviews, research his history and review photos of Stuart’s life. He loved ESPN and ESPN undoubtedly loved him which is what I read in an article written by Steve Wulf that..

“He was a trailblazer,” says ESPN anchor Stan Verrett, “not only because he was black — obviously black — but because of his style, his demeanor, his presentation. He did not shy away from the fact that he was a black man, and that allowed the rest of us who came along to just be ourselves.”

“Yes, he brought hip-hop into the conversation,” says Harris, “but I would go further than that. He brought in the barber shop, the church, R&B, soul music. Soul, period.”

Amazing huh? How many journalists can you name that are as smooth as he and can weave hip-hop and barbershop into an interview?  This man was brilliant. A man whose legacy will forever live on. He is worthy to be remembered, studied and included in our history books because he changed the game. Not just in sports, but in journalism as well.

His ESPY speech brought tears to my eyes. Stuart Scott reminded us that…

“When you die it does not mean that you lose to cancer. You beat cancer by how you live, why you live and the manner in which you live. So live.”

That message is for everyone and not just those with cancer. Understanding that your life has purpose. Regardless of the time you may spend on this earth. Know that like Scott says “how you live, why you live and the manner in which you live” are important.

RIP Stuart Scott.

To check out his ESPY speech watch the video below: