The Mama's Thoughts

One by one, the boys hopped into the van.  Michael greeted each one, so excited to get to play his favorite sport with his favorite buds.  Water bottles, soccer balls,  sweatshirts and excited boys filled the van.   I was taking Michael and 3 of his buddies to soccer practice and the chatter in the van swung from "Dude!" to "I can't wait to see Coach Izzie".  All 4 of the boys still sit in booster seats because they are 7 years old and their height/weight combo doesn't quite add up to a regular seat yet.  Another mama was picking them up from practice, so the boys all had been instructed to take their seats out on to the field with them.  We pulled up to the soccer field, and the boys jumped out, once again lugging their ball,  water bottle and now booster seat.  They raced to round the corner of the school we were practicing at.  Coming towards us from the other side of the building, out of our sight until we met up, was a group of 16 year old soccer players that Coach Izzie also coaches.  These boys were sweaty, boisterous, jingling car keys, and speaking with voices like that of a man.  As soon as my boys saw them, they slowed down, gazed in reverent silence, their eyes widened to the attraction of these older soccer players.  I heard one of the young men say "Look - they all have their car seats..." and just like that time sped up right before my eyes, imagining MY little guy as one of these big boys.  Not so long ago, a mama dropped these guys off at soccer, juggling their water bottle and booster seat, wishing for the day he was old enough to sit in the car without it.  And in the blink of an eye, that boy is now driving himself to practice, probably has a job or a girlfriend, wears a bigger shoe than his mom, studying math she only vaguely remembers.  I got a glimpse into the future on Sunday.  The slow motion move that day around the corner of the school, revealed to me what is just around the real life corner to our lives.  My boy will one day be a young man, and what I saw that afternoon on the soccer field  a few days ago is so much closer than I think it is.  One day, my son will drive himself and his friends, he will have independence and skills and an-almost-grown-up- life.   I'm so grateful to be a part of Michael's world and watch him grow up.  I have the best seat in the house.