Last Day of Soccer

Soccer Balls and Shoes Free to a good home (Kids optional)

Today was the last soccer practice of the 6 week class for Niamh and Finn. For whatever reason, Finn has become more adverse to playing each week. It started with him just sitting on the ball (See Video), then he wanted to stand by me during practice (which I would NOT allow. I get so annoyed with people who coddle their kids and let them get away with that behavior), then he started to inch his way off the field and refuse to go back on. The last of those behaviors earned him a time out at Green Lake standing against one of the trees until the end of practice. Niamh has always continued to play and pay no attention to what Finn is doing because she is getting good attention from the coaches (being one of two girls on the "team" earnes her a teeny bit more attention, which she thrives on). Between practices I really get Finn pumped up for the next one. We practice kicks, we tell him how good he is, we make him think he is having fun. He seems to fall for it and leads me to believe that the next practice will go well. Then, the next practice comes and he is even more a pain in the rear. This last practice today was the most embarrassing public display of my parenting and his stubbornness and Niamh's jealousy I have ever endured.
In the car everyone was just fine. The plan was to finish practice, have a picnic at Green Lake, and play on the playground. It is a GORGEOUS day. Then, we got out of the car and it started right away. Finn wouldn't even walk off the sidewalk. By the time I got him to his team, he was grabbing my leg. Niamh didn't like Finn getting all the attention so she stuck her thumb in her mouth and grabbed my skirt. Are you kidding me? Of course, with Finn's behavior by the tree at the last practice, the parents were all looking at me to see what I was going to do to make today end differently. I told both of them to "Go out there and show me how good you are!" I was Cheerleader Mom. Finn said he wanted a snack. I told him they were for after practice. "But I really want one now", he whined. "NO", I said. That was all it took. He screamed and tears started streaming down his face, snot out of his nose, and we were right back to the tree in full tantrum and pissed off Mom stride. Then, came Niamh. "I don't want to play, I'm shy." Like hell she is. To make a long story shorter than it could be, we picked up our picnic, camera that I brought to take pictures of the momentous last practice, and headed back across the field to the car with both kids' cries getting louder and louder and I muttering, so that only they could hear, all the toys that will be taken away when we get home. Finn has lost his helicopter, bike, and delivery truck. Niamh has lost the 3 stars she had earned for good behavior, bike, and she is not allowed to wear a dress later today. Neither of them are allowed to play outside today, they are confined to their rooms and the hallway and bathroom between their rooms. It could work out fine for me because I won't have to deal with them unless I enter their territory, but we are all missing out on a very sunny day. I hope I never run in to any of those parents. I was completely mortified by my children while every other kid was having a blast. I'm sure this is because my kids eat frozen waffles and watch too much television while all the other kids' parents are probably teaching them sign language and organic gardening in the mornings.