If it weren't for you, Mom, I probably wouldn't have a deep love for the sport like I do today. You were the one who decided I would join the local kindergarten soccer team when I was 5 years old and you were the one who decided to keep me on a team until I was old enough to decide on my own. Thanks to you, I started playing the sport at such a young age that I got pretty good at it, which was a big influence on why I have always chosen to keep playing soccer. Joining a club team in fourth grade was a big commitment, but you never once complained about it. I couldn't have put myself through such a demanding sport without your constant support, love and reassurance. Mom, here are a few of the infinite reasons I want to thank you for being my Soccer Mom.
1. Not killing me when I left my shin guards in your car after a game and they made your car smell for a week straight.
2. Running a Gatorade over to the bench when I carelessly forgot a water-bottle.
3. Not complaining about all the traveling that we had to do for my club team.
4. Reassuring me my soccer tan lines weren't that bad, and they were kind of cute.
5. Rubbing out my legs the day after a weekend-long tournament.
6. Sacrificing your weekends to travel and watch a weekend full of games even though there were far better things you could've been doing.
7. Buying me ice cream when I scored a goal/stopped a goal.
8. Telling me I was still a rockstar when I had a bad game.
9. Listening to me complain about how dumb my coach was being.
10. Listening to me complain about how we should have won.
11. Coming to literally every single game that I've ever had.
12. Fighting the opposing team's moms on the sidelines when I pushed their daughters over.
13. Yelling at the ref when he didn't call a foul for me.
14. Yelling at the ref when he called a foul against me.
15. Putting my jersey out the window when I forgot to put it in the dryer before the game.
16. Not getting (too) mad when I left my cleats in the living room, and made the whole house smell.
17. Sticking up for me when Dad tried to tell me what I did wrong in the game.
18. Telling me I had an awesome game even when I missed a wide open shot.
19. Buying me all pre-wrap colors even though I barely went through one roll my whole career.
20. Spending a ridiculous amount of money on my plethora of sports bras and spandex.
21. Buying me USWNT jerseys every time my favorite player changed.
22. Reminding me that I was not, in fact, dying when I twisted my ankle, or got injured in any way.
