Sideline friends

It is about to be Fall sports season. Soccer. Field hockey. Football. And the most dreaded sideline, cross country. (You stand there waiting for hours and then your kid runs off into the woods. Bring a book). 

Some of us are the orange slice moms. We support the team with lists and coach gifts and volunteer forms.  Some are cheerleading beasts on the sidelines… you can hear our voices and two finger whistles on the NEXT field. Like an NYPD officer in a car in traffic, we're using that horn. And then there are those of us sitting in  lawn chairs, with coolers, reading the newspaper. 

Friendships are born in these afternoons. Maybe they turn into ongoing group texts and nights out. Maybe we’re still hanging out after kids go off to college. 

Or maybe these friendships are just seasonal. We forget each other’s names when we move on to basketball season. We were more like neighbors, living on the 40 yard line on Friday nights. And it was good. 

Either way, give sideline friends a hug when you see them at Target. Send her a “This is Present” hat. It's ok to share the forever memory of that one season and move on; to have some friends who are not besties.