It’s cold wet and muddy out there and
yet every week they line up eyeing off the opposition, ready to brave the
weather, risking frostbite on fingers as they fight the elements - all in the
name of glory... and that’s just us parents.
“Sign them up to play Soccer and Rugby”
they said.
“It will be fun” they said.
Funny how no one really mentioned the part
where we parents are expected to face gale force winds as we try to remain on our
feet on the sidelines. Standing in knee deep puddles of sludge, wiping sleet
from our eyes and pushing our frozen vocal chords to the limits as we roar our
encouragement to our kids out on the field.
Alright, so I might be exaggerating a little, but there is no denying winter
sports can be just as tough on us parents as it is on our kids.
Tougher even.
I mean… at least the little rug rats are
staying warm as they run around chasing balls, whilst we are totally relying on
the hot thermoses of coffee we are desperately clutching to keep the blood circulating
to our fingers tips whilst we stand on the sidelines and cheer our kids on.
It always rains at the games.
Have you ever noticed how you wake to a
bright shining sun and yet by the time you arrive at the fields the sky has
clouded over and the heavens have opened to welcome you with a down pouring of
torrential rain?
It’s practically a given.
I have to confess that I am one of those
people who wake on a Saturday and Sunday morning and before I even open one eye
to peer at the sky outside of our bedroom window, I say a little prayer…
“Please let there be a text message saying
sport has been cancelled today so I can go back to sleep”.
OK so maybe I don’t say it every weekend. Just the ones where the
games are super early and it is cold and windy and rainy… which is practically every weekend that sport
is on, but hey – who’s counting?
I’m pretty sure I am not the only parent
that does this… right?
And then, have you ever noticed that if by
chance you happen to score a day where it is not raining, you arrive at the
fields in your freshly cleaned car and your beautiful little sport loving
sprocket and his team mates find like the one and only patch of mud on the
grounds and they manage to slide in it over, and over again, until their
jerseys are black, their shoes are cemented and only the whites of their eyes
remain clean as they peer out of the mud on their faces like little tribal warriors?
And all that takes place in the warm up
session before the game even begins.
And then the icing on the cake comes when
you remember “lucky me, it’s our turn to wash the jerseys.”
Have you also noticed that when you finally
make it through everyone’s games, you arrive home and for the first time since
last week’s game the kids actually fight over who gets to shower or bath first?
If only they were that enthusiastic to get clean every other night of the week.
You are cold and often wet to the bone and
yet you put the filthy jerseys on to soak and you tag team the kids in the bath
before you finally get a chance to jump in the shower and warm up for yourself.
I have a whole new appreciation for my
parents, because (insert granny voice here) back in my day, we had this tiny
electric hot water system that never provided enough hot water for all of us to
shower after a cold day at weekend sports.
If I remember correctly you had
approximately 2.18 minutes to get clean and wash your hair in the shower before
the hot water ran out mid shampoo, and more often than not you would lose track
of time which would result in a whole lotta cursing and banging on the bathroom
door from your mum or dad, who were also cold and wet and desperate for a hot shower.
I am so glad times have changed and now as
a parent myself, I am lucky enough to have an instantaneous Natural Gas hot
water heater because getting out kids to shower in under 2 minutes would be
like asking a teenager to give up their iPhone… it’s just never gonna happen.
A Natural Gas hot water system ensures you
have instant and continuous hot water when you need it.
There are a wide range
of systems readily available which means that there’s a hot water solution to suit every family and enough hot water for everyone to enjoy a
post game shower.
With Natural Gas you are not bound by peak
and off peak periods, so you can use your hot water and your gas appliances
whenever you want, without having to worry about paying more at certain times
of the day.
OK so you are finally home from the game,
the kids and you are showered and the muddy jerseys are soaking – you deserve
to reward yourself with a steaming cup of hot chockie.
I like to make our hot chocolate the old fashioned
way by warming the milk on the gas stove top. The gas heats the milk to perfect
temperature very quickly so you can be drinking your hot chockie in no time at
all.
If you want a totally decadent hot
chocolate and you aren’t afraid of a few calories between friends, then I
promise myhot chockie recipe won’t disappoint.
If you would like more information on how
Natural Gas can deliver you hot water or a warm cosy home at the press of a
button or a turn of the tap – check out The Natural Gas website here or find out how to apply for a Gas Connection at your home here.
Do you or
your kids play winter sport?
Do you have
any post game rituals?
