What I took away from the 1st real football practice.

• Don't read too much into the position group your kid is placed in at first (for Warren it was Running Back), because 20 minutes later they could very well be doing Wide Receiver drills.  My iPhone got a work out reading about all things football related on Wikipedia.
• Bleachers+Toddler=a nervous wreck Mama who is much better off sitting in the grass while brothers run up and down a grassy knoll for over an hour.

• There is no such thing as a too big water bottle for a two hour football practice.  Warren was NOT happy with me that his ran out so soon.  His best buddy on the team has an ENORMOUS thermos style jug of water that Warren is coveting.  Will be a potential wild goose chase today to find one for tonight's practice.
• It is a life-changer, this organized sport thing.  We ran to Wendy's after practice and didn't even get home until 9.  Ummm, kids are usually ASLEEP before that and they all were sweaty and grassy and in dire need of a bath.  I tucked the last munchkin in (again!) at 10:30.  This is going to take some getting used to.
• Two kids just only now woke up at 8:30 and one is STILL sleeping as I type.  So, at least a staggered more leisurely morning stands in contrast to bedtime routine last night.
•  In the course of 2 hours you can experience welling pride for your little blossoming athlete as well as dismal frustration watching them goof around and not pay attention at times.  All normal newly 7 year old first team/organized sport behavior I presume!
• Bring your telephoto lens and real camera!  Cell phones cannot capture anything worthwhile when there are 40+ kids out on a huge field running around.

{Warren is somewhere out there on the field, oh and there's a football in the air!}

• It is actually fun to see the High School your kids will attend (GO GATORS!!), and come away feeling renewed sense of pride in humanity as it is a large group of the high school football players that are helping to coach this three day Player's Camp.  They are patient funny kids and obviously determined athletes.  Just the way I hope to see my guys in 10 years!
• Don't take it personal when at dinner afterwards you ask your son "tell me one thing about football that you don't think I know," and he replies "the ball is shaped like a foot, Mom."  Okay, thanks buddy... give me a little credit here :)