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I Got You, Babe - Crazy soccer mom patrols sidelines with zeal, big camera lens

By: Kyla Henderson

Thursday, May. 17, 2012 | Comments: 0

COLIN CORNEAU/THE BRANDON SUN Enlarge Image

Young players warm up before a junior soccer game at J.R. Reid School in this May 3, 2012 file photo.

I have a confession to make.

I am one of those crazy soccer moms.

I am.

You know, the ones that other parents look at, point at and whisper about? Yep, that’s me.

I never knew I had it in me, but when the monkey had her first soccer game earlier this month, out came the crazy soccer mom in me.

I used to be one of those other people who frowned or poked fun at parents like me. When the better half and I would attend sporting games of nephews, nieces or cousins and the like, we would be the ones whispering about the crazy soccer/football/hockey parents. The ones that stand at the front and make all the noise.

I really didn’t think I would ever morph into such a parent. I mean, I used to be shy. In my junior high school yearbook I was voted the "sweetest," person.

Well, turns out junior high was a while ago and the monkey’s first foray into organized sports has squashed the sweet in me.

Now nobody panic. I’m not the parent that will get into the fist fight with the referee (a side note: there are no referees to get into fights with in Tim Bits soccer) or another crazy parent. No one will have to tackle me and hose me down with a giant bucket of Gatorade to calm me down.

I’m not that crazy parent.

I’m the other crazy parent.

You know, the one with the giant camera with the even bigger lens shooting 500 pictures of one game.

I would like to clarify this, however.

I have worked many years as a photographer, shooting everything from weddings to sporting events (I even shot the final of the Safeway Select Men’s Curling Final one year for the Winnipeg Sun).

So I just happen have the equipment. Why not use it to capture my daughter’s amazing athletic ability and well, complete cuteness? And I didn’t bring my biggest lens to the first game. (And maybe only because I forgot it.)

I’m a bit of a yeller, too. I don’t mean to be, but we’re outside and the kids are loud and my monkey is on the far side of the field, opposite to were the rest of the kids are kicking the soccer ball.

In fact, she’s staring off into the distance somewhere, seeming to be completely oblivious to the fact that she’s a player in a soccer game that is currently happening.

So I yelled some directions.

"Hey you! The ball is over there! Why don’t you chase the ball with the other kids?"

I might be a bit of an over-excited cheerleader, too. The monkey and I started a team cheer when she was on her shift off. Next game we’ll try to get the wave going.

So I do a little coaching from the side lines and I have really good pictures. So what? The games are sure fun to watch!

Kyla Henderson is a local freelance journalist, business owner and mommy. Her column runs every week in the Community News.

» kyla@lilbitbaby.ca

Republished from the Brandon Sun print edition May 17, 2012

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I have a confession to make.

I am one of those crazy soccer moms.

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I have a confession to make.

I am one of those crazy soccer moms.

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