I am a soccer mom

E is playing soccer this spring. So far we've mostly loved it, except for two little glitches. The first is the abominable snacks that are apparently expected at the end of every game--so-called "juice drinks" and fluorescent-colored "fruit" leather and other non-food items. We took apples and oranges when it was our turn and were met with shock and disdain from the kids on the team, even though I had spent at least an hour cutting the apples to look like rabbits (a special treat requested by the girls).

The other difficulty is the question of sporting gear. The kids are required to purchase a city jersey, and I actually think it's really nice--reversible so they can be a different color depending on the week, and they can wear the same one until they outgrow it because it's the same for all the age groups. Then there are all kinds of optional gear you can purchase: matching shorts, socks, etc. And THEN there is the specialized gear that I think it's crazy to buy for a four- or five-year-old, like cleats (cleats!). But of course E noticed that she was dressed differently right away, and we've had several tearful moments while I explained that her shoes were just fine and that maybe it wasn't such a great idea to WANT to look like everyone else.

She was pretty much reconciled to her non-matching shorts and her thrift-store shoes, and then this last game (where, I have to say, she played her little heart out and really got into the fray and gave that ball heck) she was apparently talking to her little sartorial-splend-i-fied friend who had all the gear you could have and then some while they were on the sidelines waiting for their turn to get back into the game. Here's what came of that--

On the way home, E says to me in the car, "My friend S says that her shoes are faster than mine."

Mom: "Really? I thought you were running pretty fast out there."

E: "Well, I was, but S says her shoes are faster."

Mom: "Do you think that shoes make you fast? I think it's probably your feet and your legs and all the practice that you do running and playing soccer."

E, thoughtful: "Yeah, shoes couldn't make you go fast. It's your legs. And it's being strong like an oak (one of her favorite expressions from Mulan)."

Mom, trying to change the subject: "So, do you think soccer is fun? Are you glad you're starting to play?"

E: "I think soccer is really fun. Even when people lie to you about their shoes."