Saturday Recap

Today was my son’s last day of kindergarten soccer for the spring season. The weather matched the mood. Cloudy, a little rainy, and just gray enough to make the end of the season feel like a quiet exhale. The kids on his team, much like the parents, seemed more relieved than anything. While they’ve all improved a lot over the past couple of months, it’s clear they’re one of the less physically developed teams. I don’t mean that as a criticism. It’s kindergarten soccer. But some kids are just more physically aware or focused at this age, and it shows.

This was my son’s second season, and for many of his teammates, it was their first. Watching them play teams that seemed far more confident with the ball could be tough. It’s not competitive. No one’s even keeping score officially. But it’s pretty obvious when the other team scores repeatedly. And while none of us take it too seriously, it’s still hard to watch your kid walk off the field disappointed week after week.

Along the sidelines, my wife and I had a small disagreement. I wondered if maybe he’s just not into soccer, and if we’ve been nudging him toward something that isn’t really his thing. Often he has a hard time focusing on the game. But he also has laser focus when he’s building LEGO sets or playing with his sister. So it makes me wonder if we should shift gears and try something else. Music, maybe. I’ve been thinking about starting him on piano. He can really get into his mini keyboard sometimes. He also loves his swim lessons, even though he’s still learning. Or maybe something outdoors and creative. The challenge, as always, is finding that sweet spot between exposure and pressure. Keeping things fun without pushing too hard.

The rest of the day was fun. We made a stop at Home Depot to grab garden starts and some organic soil to top off our raised bed. We downsized last year from two 4x8 beds to one, so we picked up a few medium-sized containers to grow a couple extras. Pumpkins, zucchini, tomatoes, hot peppers. We’re getting a late start this year, but it still feels good to get everything in the ground. The kids “helped” plant and dig and then played on the sidewalk together while I did some yard work. Edging, weeding, trimming the front beds where the tulips and daffodils are finishing up. I even moved a rose bush that’s been bugging me since we moved in nearly a decade ago. It’s always been a couple feet out of line with the others, and today I finally fixed it.

My watch said 12,000 steps by the end of it, all earned just puttering around outside with the kids while my wife handled dinner prep inside. I cooked a couple racks of ribs she’d asked for. They turned out fine. Not amazing, but not bad either.

Tomorrow, we’re heading to a birthday party for my coworker’s four-year-old son. It’s at one of those indoor play zones, which is perfect for our kids’ ages. None of us have met each other’s families before, so it’ll be one of those odd but nice moments when different parts of your life get to overlap.

And then, tomorrow night, my wife and I are going on a rare date. Babysitter’s booked. We’re going to see Sharon Van Etten at Revolution Hall. It’s been over a decade since I last saw her perform. That was back in Ferndale, Michigan, at this tiny venue called The Loving Touch. It used to be a massage parlor, supposedly, and you could stand so close to the stage you could touch the band. She’s still under the radar in terms of mainstream fame, but tomorrow’s venue is much bigger than The Loving Touch. I think it’ll be a great show.

All in all, it was a good Saturday. The kind of day that reminds you parenting isn’t about doing everything right. Just doing your best and finding joy in the rhythm of ordinary things.