08/30/2026
Seeing Eli sign on with TFC Academy is one of those moments where you stop and realize just how fast time goes and how far your kid has come.
As the next stage of parenting starts to look a little different, there’s been a lot of reflecting and a lot of realizing that letting go is part of the job too.
Eli started playing competitive soccer when he was just 5 years old, and since then, I’ve watched him put more and more of himself into this game. Three or four practices a week, weekends filled with games, travelling all over the States and even to Europe. So many weekends away, long drives, tired days and sacrifices along the way. But he always shows up. He keeps working. He keeps wanting to get better.
Now he’s taken another pretty big step. Moved to Toronto, accepted into TFC Academy, starting at a new school and figuring out how to live on his own. Cooking for himself, managing his own schedule, getting himself where he needs to be and learning a whole lot about life along the way.
As a mom, this is what you hope for. You spend years teaching them, helping them, guiding them and preparing them to eventually do it on their own. And then suddenly, they actually do. 😭
It’s such a strange mix of emotions…so much joy and pride, a little sadness, letting go while still holding on.
It feels like just yesterday I was watching that little five year old run around a soccer field and now he’s moved away to chase something he loves.
I’m so excited to see where this year takes him. Being surrounded by coaches and teammates who challenge him, push him and make him better is exactly where he needs to be.
