Thursday, October 16, 2008

Eat your heart out, Mia Hamm





I get a kick out of telling people that Chicky plays soccer. Soccer? For three year olds? Surely we must be those parents who are pushing their babies into activities well before they should. We're probably stunting her growth but how else will she be ready for the 2024 summer Olympic women's soccer team?

Well it's not so much playing soccer as it is spinning in circles in the sunshine and picking grass. Also, kicking playground balls into the woods. It's a good time. I leave every "game" in tears. Happy, joyful, laughing-my-ass-off kinds of tears.

Most of the other kids in this "league" (Don't you love the "finger quotes"? Aren't they "awesome"?) are four and five years old so being one of the youngest she gets cut a lot of slack. When the others are trying to follow the coach's instructions she's kicking a ball from one end of the grassy area to the other. I've never enjoyed watching my kid blatantly ignoring authority more.

My budding fashionista. They're supposed to be stretching but she's making found objects into pieces of wearable art. She's a multi-tasker! If pro soccer doesn't work out there's always Project Runway.

You like my hat? What, this old thing? Orange is the new black.

It can also be used as a mask to hide from the paparazzi. Mary Kate already order five of these.

That's my girl, staying close to the coach. I sincerely hope she was just trying to get the hair out of her face and wasn't practicing using her femine wiles.

That's it, Chicky. Don't rely on pretty, impress him with your mad goalie skills instead. Look at that form! I dare some kid to try to get something by her.


Some might look at this picture and see a girl learning how to trap a ball. I see the "Crane Pose".


We'll wait until Chicky-san's in the third grade before we teach her to sweep the leg. At least. When it comes to sport we're ruthless in this family. Strike first, strike hard, no mercy.

(Okay, not really. We're total pacifists. Or is it pansies? I forget.)

32 comments:

motherbumper said...

Chicky-san will never show mercy. BTW she teaches this to Caro-san when you aren't looking.

Dorene said...

This reminds me of our daughter last year. She was the youngest and convinced all the other kids that picking grass was much more fun. We tried to sign her up again this year but I was told it was full. My husband thinks they just recognized her name and wanted to avoid a repeat of last year.

Whirlwind said...

What a cute post. Chicky looks like she follows directions better than some of the kids on my team (I coach Moe's 3-5 team).

Patois42 said...

Swarm ball is my all-time favorite sport. Watching the little kids chase the ball back and forth really does wonders for the soul.

Liz Jimenez said...

Apparently you should have signed Chicky up for karate lessons! I love the crane pose. And nothing like some good-spirited running around, whether with purpose or otherwise. I hope the joy stays in it for a while longer before anyone starts to get competitive.

Avalon said...

I love Chicky's artsy soccer poses. She is the cutest little player out there.

BTW----when I first saw the pictures, i wasn't sure that was even Chicky. She looks like she's 6!

Anonymous said...

She's so adorable. I bet she has that coach wrapped around her little pinky...he is kinda cute though. If she was practicing her feminine wiles, she doesn't have bad taste...hehe.

Anonymous said...

She is ADORABLE. Look at that hair!!

(ok, I know I should be commenting on her mad soccer skillz, but I just couldn't resist gushing...)

ewe are here said...

Love the poses!

I call little kid soccer "magnet ball", because of the way they all tend to immediately form into a little clump around the ball and move around as said clump. ;-)

Anonymous said...

I'd flirt with the coach, too. He's hot!

She's so freaking adorable. I love the pictures of her next to the coach and not just for looking at him. ;)

Anonymous said...

Gaw, I loved those 3 and 4 year old soccer years.

World Cup 2020!

Chicky Chicky Baby said...

Courtney - There are two coaches and the other one is even better looking. Yeah, I like soccer.

Heather said...

Yeah, she's pretty cute too. Smart momma signing girlie up for soccer to tire her out...if only they could do that with CC too eh?

The Stiletto Mom said...

She is so pretty!! Mine played soccer when she was 4 and 5. Yeah, they totally sat down in the middle of the field and compared nail polish during a game. The Ringleader? My Kid. What? OPI had just come out with a new line and she was all excited...

Issa said...

Dan, when did she get all tall and big and girlish?

My four year old "plays" soccer. She adores it, but she has no clue what she's doing. We do it mostly, because it's a chance for her to have to listen to someone else. Plus all the running and um...cartwheels she does, runs off energy.

Fairly Odd Mother said...

I haven't seen her in a while and, wow! She's all grown up! So cute.

Elleoz said...

What a cutie pie! Zoe started dance this year, and I am thinking of putting Josh in soccer (or ameba ball as I like to call it) next year.

Sarahviz said...

Too funny! I'd FORCE my boyz to play soccer if the coaches looked like that!

Daisy said...

Looks like she's having a blast! I love that she's having so much fun outdoors. Who needs video games? not chicky.

kittenpie said...

OMG I love Chicky. she's cute and sassy and sporty and well, all the spice girls, really.

Alex Elliot said...

Cute pictures! I'm all for little kids playing sports: sports, bath and bed in that order. Sure sports are great for self-esteem, learning to be a team player and of course fitness but to me the sound sleeping is the best!

josetteplank.com said...

Watching 3-5 year olds play soccer makes it very obvious why shin guards were invented.

And are you kidding me? This is serious stuff. By 7 years old, if you don't haven't been scouted by the travel team, you might as well stick to paper dolls. *insert eye roll*

Eh-hem.

Yes, I'm a subversive among "serious" kiddie kicker parents.

Anonymous said...

Hi Tania, finally catching up post BlogHer and wanted to pop over and say hello (was so very low energy when I met you in the late afternoon...). Love these photos -- my 4yo daughter also is rocking soccer in our backyard. The coordination surprises me...

Hope we can connect at some point again in the future. Would love to chat and get to know you better.

LifeBehindTheCoach.com said...

So so cute - what a girl, no wonder you're such a proud mum
Lynette x

Anonymous said...

What a cutie! And now I can't wait to see what havoc my little anti-authority girl will wreak on the soccer field!

Christina said...

She's got some serious soccer poses! And if she can't get the ball, she can flip that pretty hair of hers and distract them to kick the ball away.

Anonymous said...

Hello. Those pictures are so cute. I think it's great that you don't take it too seriously and just let her have fun. She is so adorable

SciFi Dad said...

Coaching three-four-five year olds in soccer must be a lot like trying to herd cats.

carrie said...

I think Chicky and Katie will be the forwards in the 2024 games for sure! Nothing like starting 'em young.

and ps - if that were my coach, I'd stay as close to him as I could too! rawr!

tracey said...

I absolutely love these pics of chicky playing soccer. what a beautiful girl she is.

Amy Urquhart said...

Oh, she's such a cute little thing! I love her soccer outfit.

TRS said...

Yeah... you're kid is cute.
How do I get in touch with her coach. I don't see a ring...