So once again I forgot about Asher's soccer practice/game until 2 minutes before it started. Just like last week. It was 38 degrees out so heading out for an hour in the cold was not high on my list, but it was picture day so I dressed him up in several layers and we headed out.

Typical Asher soccer session:

30 min practice/drills - does a fairly decent job of following directions when not distracted by orange marker flags or bugs in the grass.

30 min of 3 on 3 scrimmage - tries to run at the ball once or twice followed by multiple crying episodes because he didn't make a goal and somebody else kicked the ball. Spends 30-50% of scrimmage crying. Doesn't want to go on the field when it's his turn and often wanders off.

For some reason today he decided he liked soccer. He kept running after the ball even when he missed it and he didn't cry once. Not once. A miracle in itself. All the other parents are used to Asher's crying spells so I think they were just as shocked as I was. Then he scored a few little goals. Then a few more. No one keeps score in 4 year old soccer but Asher sure as heck kept track of his goals by running to his coach after every goal and telling her what his tally was.

His cheeks and ears were totally red from the cold but he was sad every time they took him out of the game so someone else to play. Go figure. By the end he was up to 12 goals - as he has told anyone and everyone within earshot tonight. He was trying to stop the ball, turn the ball around, and dribble in the right direction. Who knew? Didn't quite get the concept of not taking it from his own team, need to work on that a bit...

Then to top off his first really positive game he gets excited during the 'hand clap' line with the other team at the end and hits a kid from the other team in the face. And makes her cry. It was apparently an accident, but still. Can you get red carded after the game is over? Asher tried. And I didn't even see it, another parent had to come tell why the little girl was crying. Good times.

Wish I had a picture of all the kids trying to play in the cold while the parents were bundled up on the sideline (did I mention it snowed yesterday?) but I was too cold to take the camera out.

Lesson learned: Asher should only play sports in arctic climates.

It is really fun when the kids developmentally make a giant leap at once. This sounds like it was a great time for both of you--in the cold--who would have guessed.

I remember playing soccer when I was a bit older than Asher is now. I got my first red card and thought it meant I was going to be sent to jail. I sat on the sideline for the rest of the game expecting the police to come and put me in handcuffs. I also thought that we were going to be given trophies worth hundreds of dollars after every game we played and was sorely disappointed when this did not happen. I just assumed that people played sports in order to collect golden trophies. Its a very confusing time.

Performs well in arctic climates. Enjoys scoring goals. Proficient at hitting the opposition. Sounds like the boy was made for hockey.