We have gone to each others communions, funerals, birthdays. We've welcomed new babies, celebrated landmarks like communions and fortieth birthdays. We've cried at funerals together and laughed so hard that we've peed our pants. We didn't know each other before this: I guess in a way, we were all thrown together by our boy's hockey abilities. We've been talking about this blog for at least a year, maybe more, but it's now time to put pen to paper.
By "we" I mean Kellie, Marilyn and I. We are the three momsketeers of the north Toronto hockey arena circuit. Having boys on the same Minor Novice team, we hook up at least once a week, to sit on frigid, steel benches and watch our sons and husbands get all worked up about 7 year olds playing hockey. "Only in Canada?...Pity!" Well, I'm not sure it's only in Canada. Maybe there are moms in the USA (mid-west for sure), Sweden, Russia and other nordic countries who endure the same hardships.
We are the moms of three little boys who have big dreams about playing hockey in the big leagues. I guess, we are along for the ride, as our husbands do their best to support and foster their skill development. None of us moms play hockey, and we never grew up with it in our families. We unwittingly stumbled into the role of Hockey Mom when our husbands decided that the boys hockey interests would become their main hobby. We have joked about this blog for years, and now I am going to make it come to life.
Minor Novice hockey as a year round activity in my home. It involves arenas, hockey bags, hotels, buses, gyms, personal trainers, and always several hockey bags. Hockey is in everything my boy does. He wears his team's clothing everyday, and insists on never being without some type of jersey, sweatshirt, hat or jacket. When they get too stinky, I have to wash them once he's sleeping, and have them ready in the morning.
My laundry room has become a serious dumping ground for jerseys, pinnies, hockey socks, jocks, gloves, elbow pads, skate guards, shoulder pads. There are 3 enormous hockey bags: one for each of my kids. We use a boot dryer every day, to dry out my son's skates after practice. This process helps reduce the stink of sweaty gear.
The hockey gear has spread to the garage. There are training tools that I could never imagine in my wildest dreams. The hockey net is placed in front of the garage door, and we've already replaced the glass windows with plexi glass. The door has holes where he has pelted the puck. A wide shot can result in a hole in the garage door. He's seven. I can only imagine what his shot will do when he's twelve. UGH.
Who am I not to encourage his dream? My husband loves coaching the boys and it's quality time for them together.
So here goes nothing...My blog about how hockey is such a huge part of my life, whether I want it to be or not!
