When we heard a group of kids Penelope’s age in our new neighborhood were getting on a soccer league we didn’t think twice and signed her up. Chris always wanted to be on a league growing up, but between Phoenix Boy’s Choir and music lessons it didn’t happen. I was never interested in team sports. I wanted to be good, but I never was and I was (and still am) totally petrified of the ball. It’s sort of a rite of passage for small kids to play on a team of some sort (at least here in Utah). Soccer seemed brilliant, she always wants to play and she loves running around. Heck, she runs circles around me all day, why not a soccer ball with friends?
She was so anxious to start so we scored some cute soccer gear as early as possible. We found a hot pink ball, hot pink shin guards and polka dot soccer socks! We also found her soccer cleats for $2 at the thrift store. She was so excited to shop for the gear with me, but when it came time to actually play soccer, her head was in the clouds. She spent most of her time just staring at the paragliders overhead. She plays at the most beautiful park, I’m constantly distracted by the mountains, paragliders and view of the city, too.
Unfortunately, all the soccer uniforms are enourmous (I could wear the jersey and shorts with room to spare). For the first couple of games (see top image) I rolled up the waistband 3 times and they were still falling off. It was time for a little fix. You can’t really tell from the picture just above that I changed much, but her shorts are about 6 inches shorter and stay on. Her shirt is still very long (didn’t have time to hem that before the game), but it fits her in the trunk much better. See below for how I did it.
Are you in sports or do you have kids or siblings who are? It’s exhausting to get Penelope to practices and games on time!
Hey, we are in the same league! That park does have some amazing views. We end up refashioning uniform shorts every year too, but I’ve never been brave enough to tackle the jersey. Thanks for the tips, and maybe we’ll bump into each other sometime!
i did a lot of sport , soccer and rugby . i see sport sometimes as a kind of art : place , colors , sounds , odors …. sport gave me also forever friends and lots of stories to tell :-)
Girl, no wonder she has her head in the clouds at practice! What a wonderful place to be able to practice. Those mountains are beautiful! I have never been to Utah, but it’s on my bucket list! Too big or not, she sure looks precious in her uniform.! My kids and now my grandson play sports and I have never seen those uniforms fit. They must make those things for the jolly green giants kids! Haha. Great idea to take them up. Ours always belonged to the park so I had to be satisfied rolling them up. Happy soccer games!
Haha, Nicole was in soccer this year and she had her head in the clouds as well! She seemed to figure once she had kicked the ball once her job was done. She was more concerned with befriending all the kids on both teams at every game than anything else. We think gymnastics might be more her thing… ;)
I had to do this exact same thing when my daughter took soccer once. I don’t know why they make kids soccer uniforms so enormous.
great job! i am always amazed at how large the soccer clothes come. i know they’re trying to ensure they fit everyone, but come on… :)
Boston drowns in his too. But I just cinched them up and then washed them cinched and it helped–definitely not tailored fit like Penelope’s but suitable. I also bought another pair of better fitting sport shorts for practices. I love watching Boston play soccer . . . even though he’s really not into it. The same day, Boston went over to the goalie from the other team:
Boston: “Look up; look up; see all the parachutes!”
Opponent Goalie: “I’m not on your team.”
Boston: “Hey look! There are lots and lots!”
Opponent Goalie: “I”m not your teammate. Go play with your team! Go! GO! I’m not your teammate.”
Boston ignored him and just kept talking to this unlikely friend. Hilarious. All of us moms were just cracking up.
Glad to hear Boston’s not the only one distracted by “parachutes” even if he is quite a bit older than Penny.
Oh my goodness, my daughter has the same problem as Penelope! My son is 2 years older and built stockier than my daughter, so his uniform fit has never been a problem. I didn’t even think about it being an issue for her so I didn’t put on her uniform until the first game day and the poor thing was drowning in hers! I know what I will be doing today…breaking out the sewing machine and tackling the fit so this weekend she looks a bit more presentable! And if we are lucky she will spend less time hiking up her shorts and more time trying to score a goal! :)