Not A Sports Mom

06/11/2026

Some days youth sports look like practices.

Other days they look like:
⚽ Kicking a ball through the kitchen
🏒 Hockey in the hallway
🥇 Olympic ceremonies for one athlete

And honestly? Those might be my favorite days.

👉 https://notasportsmom.com/without-leaving-the-house/

How do kids play sports without leaving the house? From living room hockey and backyard golf to indoor obstacle courses and soccer games, this sports mom shares fun ways to keep active kids moving year-round.

06/10/2026

Best Gifts for Soccer Kids
Backyard soccer goals, training gear, and gift ideas for the future World Cup star in your house.

https://notasportsmom.com/ultimate-sports-kid-gift-guide/

06/10/2026

One thing I wasn't expecting from our first fishing adventures?

How seriously my son took his life jacket.

Someone asked why he was wearing it.

Without missing a beat he said:

"In case I fall in."

Honestly?

Fair point.

He may have been the most responsible person on the dock that day. 😂

The full story of our first fishing trip is on the blog.

👉 https://notasportsmom.com/the-first-time-fishing/

06/09/2026

I used to think sports happened at sports fields.

Now I have a 5-year-old.

Which means our backyard is somehow:

⚽ A soccer stadium
🏒 A hockey rink
⛳ A golf course
🚲 A bike trail
🥇 An Olympic venue

Sometimes all before lunch.

The funny thing is that some of our best sports memories haven't happened during games or practices.

They've happened right at home.

I wrote about the backyard games and sports my son never seems to get tired of (even when I do 😅).

👉 https://notasportsmom.com/the-backyard-games/

Tell me...

What sport has completely taken over your backyard lately?

06/09/2026

Shopping for my son used to be easy.

Then sports happened. 😅

Now instead of toys, he asks for things like:

⚽ Soccer goals

🏒 Hockey nets

⛳ Golf tees (yes, just golf tees)

🥇 Medals for backyard competitions

🚲 Anything that helps him burn energy

So I put together my Ultimate Sports Kid Gift Guide for ages 3–8.

Whether you're shopping for a soccer kid, hockey kid, future Olympian, backyard adventurer, or a child who simply never stops moving, I've rounded up gift ideas that encourage active play, confidence, and family fun.

Because the best gifts aren't always the ones that end up on a shelf.

They're the ones that get used every single day.

👉 Read the full guide: https://notasportsmom.com/ultimate-sports-kid-gift-guide/

What sport or activity is your child obsessed with right now?

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting Not a Sports Mom!

06/08/2026

My son started playing golf with a hockey stick.

That's probably all you need to know about how sports work at our house 😂

I wrote about all the creative, chaotic, and surprisingly effective ways we stay active at home.

👉 https://notasportsmom.com/without-leaving-the-house/

06/08/2026

Me: Did you put sunscreen on?

My son: Yes.

Me: Really?

My son: No.

😑

Every.

Single.

Time.

As much as he loves being outside, his skin does not appreciate the same enthusiasm.

This is one of our summer essentials for sports, camps, pools, and backyard adventures.

👉https://amzn.to/49Pg3ec

06/07/2026

When my son started sports, I thought I'd spend my time learning the rules.

Instead, I spent most of my time asking questions like:

🤔 Where do I park?
🤔 Why does practice start 15 minutes early?
🤔 How many snacks is too many snacks?
🤔 Do we really need another water bottle?

Nobody hands you a guidebook for becoming a sports parent.

You just kind of get thrown into it and hope for the best.

After a few years of learning (and making plenty of mistakes), I put together the tips I wish someone had told me from the beginning.

👉 https://notasportsmom.com/essential-tips-for-youth-sports-parents/

Whether you're brand new to youth sports or you've been doing this for years, I hope it helps.

06/07/2026

Can we talk about worms for a second?

Because apparently:
My son = fascinated.

Me = standing 6 feet away wondering how we've normalized handing worms and hooks to children.

He loved every second of it.

The worms.
The bait.
The fishing.

Meanwhile I was just trying not to make eye contact with the bucket. 😂

The full story of our first fishing trip is now on the blog.

👉https://notasportsmom.com/the-first-time-fishing/

06/06/2026

My son caught exactly ONE fish.

One.

A single fish.

And immediately became a professional fisherman.

Suddenly he had:
🎣 Advice
🎣 Techniques
🎣 Stories
🎣 Opinions

Based on approximately 90 seconds of actual fishing experience. 😂

Honestly, the confidence was impressive.

I wrote about his first fishing adventure, the fish, the worms, and how one catch turned him into a lifelong fisherman overnight.

👉 https://notasportsmom.com/the-first-time-fishing/