When I parody Regina George’s mom and tell people, “I’m not like a regular mom, I’m a lacrosse mom,” their first reaction is usually one of shock that Bakersfield even has a lacrosse team. I then have to add that we actually have two local high school lacrosse teams:  Bakersfield Mustangs and Garces Rams. In fact, my older son played on the OG team in its first year in town when there was only one at Garces and then he transferred to the Mustangs for their inaugural season.

When we started this journey, my older son was in sixth grade and his little brother was in fourth grade. And, I had never seen a lacrosse game in my life. The extent of my knowledge included that it was played with a stick and a ball and that was it. We had to learn the sport fast because my boys took off and loved it out of the gate. We have played teams from all over California as well as Nevada, Boston, and Utah.

Springtime means we are knee-deep in lacrosse equipment, gear, stinky cleats, and riveting games as we’ve been watching our younger son, a senior at Liberty High School, playing defense for the Bakersfield Mustangs. I am so thankful that this won’t be the end of our days as lacrosse parents, because after graduation he will be playing at St. Mary’s University in Kansas as a biomedical sciences student. It’s amazing to see what kinds of opportunities can happen when you try something new.

One thing about kids, school, and sports is that downtime is a luxury, and that’s why it needs to be made a priority.  In Callie Collins’ article, “Five Ways to Structure Intentional Downtime,” on page XXX, she writes about how being overscheduled can cause stress and downtime helps to alleviate that anxiousness.  One of her tips includes making a downtime schedule and sticking to it.  She also suggests that being a good role model and showing your children how to relax with purpose can encourage them to do the same.

With your kids involved in so many extracurricular activities and the prices at the grocery store and gas pump on the rise, the family budget is being stretched extra thin these days.  To help with this universal challenge, Callie Collins and KCFM asked its readers to share some of their “Best Money-saving Tips for Families.” Some of the tips included buying in bulk, eating in, and packing a lunch.  To read all of these great ideas, turn to page XXX.

When you’re in the thick of parenting with little ones, it’s hard to imagine them as teenagers or adults, but it really happens so fast.  In this month’s Humor at Home, Julie Willis’ article, “New Mom Support Group: What I Really Learned,” on page XXX, she reflects back on her challenges of having a newborn baby and trying to figure it all out.  As she joined a new mom support group, she compared herself to these women there that seemed to have it all figured out.  They didn’t, of course! She kept going to learn the secrets of motherhood from them, but the one who ultimately taught her how to be the best mom she could be was her own baby.

This time of my life is bittersweet for sure.  As my son’s senior year is coming to a close and a new adventure awaits, I feel all the FEELS! On Instagram, one recent post that resonated with me from @motherspeak read, “Someday I’ll look back and say, ‘I blinked and they were grown.’ So, I hope to also say… ‘But I saw it all.  I soaked it in. I was there for it, and it was great!’” This Spring I am going to feel it all and enjoy my time watching his first lasts of high school, especially his lacrosse games.  I am so thankful we signed up with that first lacrosse clinic through Bakersfield Youth Lacrosse League, because it changed the trajectory of our lives for the better. It’s been the most fun adventure I could have imagined!

To find a new passion or to sign up for a tried and true one, don’t forget to check out the 27th Annual Summer Camp & School Fair on Thursday, April 11th! Come find me and say “Hi!”

Happy Spring!!!