Seriously? N Texas is huge for soccer. Both of mine played the entire time we lived there. Every kid I knew played soccer. Actually, it's a great sport for them for a lot of reasons.
I always said exactly the same thing until I had three kids and got tired of them touching each other's armrests and stealing each other's toys. The three-row SUV's barely have enough room to shove a stroller in the cargo area. The damn van was inevitable. The good news is, once you tint out the windows so nobody can see you, it's quite comfortable and convenient.
I have an 11-year-old and a 7-year-old. In North Texas, if you aren't playing long before then--you aren't playing...ever. Both of mine do ballet, which is fine by me. That's competitive enough, but they get to wear pretty costumes. And the older one is loving being in band in middle school. She looks forward to the day she's in the senior high marching band.
I have a 3rd row SUV as one of the vehicles; it's fine for the days I'm transporting 5 or 6 girls around town. Otherwise, I'm in my sedan. Fortunately, mine are far past the stroller stage, though my 2nd grader is still so tiny that she needs a booster seat. I'm sure a mini-van would've been easier to get those crazy infant carriers in and out of--but I just couldn't conceive of driving a mini-van.
Shame on you! My girls absolutely loved it. Haley quit after 10th grade (the game was to sissyfied for her in south La.). Emma (9th grade) plays varsity now.
Why "shame on me"? My older daughter can't walk and chew gum at the same time, but loves ballet and band. My younger daughter played soccer in kindergarten, hated it, but loves dance and art. A lot of people seem to think that kids must be involved in sports. It wasn't an interest for either of mine (me, either.) My older daughter and I love to watch sports (the younger one truly hates them), but we don't want to participate in them.
I should have used a "wink" when I said shame on you. I was only kidding. That said, my oldest was pretty clumsy as well. Soccer really helped her in that regard. My main point was that it always seemed to me, especially in Wichita Falls, that every kid played soccer.
Ballet helps with coordination, too. Soccer is a huge deal up here for the little kids, but I don't like it, don't want to watch it, and my kids don't want to play it. There are plenty of other activities outside of soccer. Believe me, we're running constantly doing something.
