I’m a hockey mom. Times two actually.
When you walk into the area, you’ll see so many moms cheering. Cheering for their kids and their friends kids too.
But there is something different, I think, about my hockey mom experience. You see, the thing is, I never know if or when it will be a last. A last chance. A last season. A last opportunity. Bennett loves hockey. It literally fills his cup to the brim. Also, he is a pretty average, often spacey, there for the celebration kinda player. So far, it seems like most kids don’t really notice. They accept him, for now. But, I’m not naive. I know as they get older, as the other kids skills progress, as actual plays become an expectation that this will be hard for my boy. So while some kids are perfecting their post goal cellie, scoring their first hat trick and gaining praise for the amazing assist they did to set up the teammate who was ready for the pass. My son, is excited to touch the puck, high five his pals as he leaves the ice from his shift and make small talk with the players and coaches on the bench.
I’m sure those other moms, they want to cheer for Bennett too, just like I want to.
But it’s somewhat hard to cheer when your child isn’t really in the play.
I sometimes wonder if anyone else sees him out there?
Do they notice how hard he is trying?
How much he has improved?
Do they know how tired he will be tonight?
Do they see him trying to cheer on his pals or compensate with social skills?
I’m not always sure.
But I do.
As hard as it can be for me, I hope this thing that he lives for, lasts forever for him. So today, this hockey season, I am a hockey mom.
And I will cheer and show up and bring the signs and soak it all in.
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