Dad, What are you doing?

I get asked this question a lot. This morning it was during Jessica's soccer game. I helped coach Jesse's team today because the assistant coach didn't show up. Since she and her teammates are five, coaching means keeping the ball in bounds and pointing them toward the right goal. After about five minutes, Jessica notices I'm not leaving the field, and in a low voice that was almost a whisper asks, "Dad, what are you doing?" I told her I was helping coach her team. I'm not a coach. I'm Dad. The guy with the silly jokes. The one who will play in the rain and ride bikes and kill the bugs in her room. But to her credit, she accepted me as Coach, came in and out of the game when I asked, and scored a few goals as well. I had a lot of fun. I hope the assistant coach doesn't show up next week.