menseekingtomahawks.com

The minor hockey season is winding down across Canada now. Many arenas have started removing the ice and making room for the lacrosse season. Most hockey moms are also winding down their hockey seasons (unless they have kids in hockey year-round), and can finally take a breather from their kids’ crazy schedules.

For the most part, the hockey moms I know have their acts together. We’re hockey moms, after all! We’re the general manager and referee in one. We call the play and the penalties.

There is, however, one end-of-season task that could probably blow the whistle on all hockey moms’ shatterproof image of being exceptionally organized. It’s that humiliating rummage through the local arena’s Lost and Found bin to see if any of it belongs to you. And guess what? It does.

What do you find in that lost and found bin at the local rink? If you’re like me it could well be any of the following:

• That mouthguard you replaced two months into the season, just one week shy of the association announcing they were no longer mandatory.
• The public library book you borrowed just after Christmas – the late fee has long since paid for its replacement.
• The Grade 3 English comprehension book that your son reported missing.
• A water bottle (that even had a label with your child’s name on it!).
• The team hoodie (the one year you all decided NOT to put kids’ names and numbers on).
• A flask – not mine, I swear (even though my initials are clearly visible on the cap).
• Last year’s 4-on-4 jersey that was used for practices this year.
• One skate guard – and only one skate guard.
• One size 2 winter boot – which begs the question: how on earth did the child make it home? – but let’s not hazard to guess to the answer.
• A pair of dollar store sunglasses – though your other four pairs are safe and sound in your glove compartment (at least you think they are).
• Your daughter’s very floral pencil case.
• One soother; just needs a little rinse and it’ll be good as new.
• Your hockey mom scarf – good thing we all have back-ups!

Oh, and look! There is my lost leather glove. Every. Single. Year.

My sister-in-law always prays to St. Anthony, the patron saint of lost items, when she loses something. I just look in the arena lost and found bin. St. Anthony’s either given up on hockey moms, or given them hope! It’s very likely you would never retrieve all these items from one single arena lost and found bin, but wouldn’t that be nice? It’s also entirely possible that you don’t ever want to retrieve any of these items from any arena lost and found bin, which is entirely understandable!

I pray that you never lose the things that are most important during the hockey season – your friendships, your sanity, your sense of humour – or your children for that matter!

Three cheers for the lost and found bin – may we all be less ‘lost’ and more ‘found’!