Bonding with Kids and Parents

Last Sunday was pretty cool. I played soccer in the morning like I always do in a men’s league. My son played soccer for his team in the afternoon in a travel league. And my father came to watch both games. My father is the reason we are in this country in the first place. He was a professional soccer player in Israel back in the late fifties and early sixties. His career there is what eventually brought us here. On this past Sunday to have three generations of soccer players sitting together in a car traveling from game to the next was something special. Talking about the games, the moves, the plays. Comparing stories of what once was and, at least with respect to my son, what will be.

My father entertained us with his tales of big games where he scored and assisted. Playoffs, Macabee games and important games played on the world arena. My father told us about the time Israel played Brazil and my father traded jerseys with Pele after the game. My son and I were blown away by that. We talked about the goal I scored that morning and about the awesome game my son played in the afternoon. The three of us sitting in the car on the way home talked and talked and talked. Grandfather, father and son. Three men bonding over the game of soccer. That ride home is one I will not easily forget.

Ofer Aronskind is an author of mutiple adventure books for boys.