Kota

This is a Journal Entry

Where to start?  Where to end?  This is hard to write, let alone process.  Our sweet dog that we've been fostering is going back today.  I'm taking him back to the shelter.  On Sunday night, we had a family council and we were almost all on board with keeping him (I was 80/20, Juliet 70/30, Chaim 70/30, Scott 60/40, and Noel 50/50).  Noel's 50/50 was a great insight to how she processes attachment.  Right after the meeting she showered him with praise and affection, and an hour later, didn't want him to sleep in her room. I realized that her 50/50 was the average:  100% of love, and 100% of pure detachment.  And it helped me understand how she even approaches me sometimes--and that she flips from one extreme to the other, but she probably sees her love for me as 60/40 (I'm scared to ask her exactly...not sure if I'm ready for the answer to that one?!)  

We've had him 19 days.  Most days have been great.  There have been little things that have been really hard, but overall I've loved having him.  I've loved him.  He's sweet and affectionate.  And he needs lots of attention and time and exercise.  He gets super anxious when we leave the house, which has been the hardest thing.  He's chewed through multiple shoes (Noel's especially...hence the low score from her).  He jumps up on us when we come home...again and again.  Even if we go outside for a minute.  This is what breaks my heart--the fact that he definitely has some separation anxiety (been reading up on that, most German Shepherds do).  It's gotten somewhat better over the last few weeks.  As of Sunday, we thought he was doing better.  Then Monday, we left for 2 hours, and we came home to our couch having a hole chewed through it, stuffing everywhere.  I still have the stuffing in a grocery bag, waiting for me to put it back in and stitch it up.  In my free time, of course.  

He loves walks and runs and playing fetch.  Fetch with sticks, not balls.  He loves to play-tug with sticks and his toys.  He could play for hours down at the park.  Today, I took him for a walk for an hour, then played with him for another down at the park.  He could still use more time.  

Here's something crazy.  I don't think I'm a dog person.  I don't love being licked.  I don't like when dogs jump up on me.  I don't like dog hair.  I actually hate dog hair.  And all that stuff, I was fine with.  In fact, I loved it.  I loved how he would lick my fingers, hands, arms, legs, and toes.  I loved when he jumped up on me because he was so excited to see me.  I loved petting him, and got used to hair being all over the house (this is HUGE...I think I only realize how big this is).  I loved all of this because I loved him.  And having to get rid of him is so darn hard.  

And I have to take him back to the shelter where he'll be in a kennel, and it breaks my heart.  I started praying for him last night that another family will find him quickly.  

I don't know if this is true or not, but I'm hoping that maybe Kota came to our family because we needed him for this period of time.  We needed his energy.  We needed to focus on someone outside ourselves.  It's been helpful for me, for sure, to get through July focusing on this sweet dog, rather than the summer stress I usually feel.  It's been good for me to get up early and go on walks, and go on another walk after dinner, when I'm usually lazy and just sit and waste time.  So, even though he takes a lot of time, and I feel like I did a lot of that with Juliet and Noel, it was really good for me.  I didn't love how he was waking me up in the middle of the night, but I did like getting exercise done before 7 a.m.--that's amazing.

But we counciled again last night, and we decided to take him back, and I wish I could go back.  I wish I hadn't been so rash with the girls being at girls camp, and trying to do it all myself.  I felt pretty depleted with the girls being gone, and having their help.  They are HUGE helpers for me--not just with the house, but emotionally.  They are amazing and fun to talk with and I rely a lot on them.  I am worried that maybe if they had been here, that we could've worked through it.  But is that even possible?  And if possible, is it a good thing?  I see all these things that Kota has improved on (even this morning on our walk, he didn't pull as much), but do we really have the time and energy to get through the rest?  Do I have time to help Kota when I need to be getting through the copywriting course and starting to make money?  Will the girls have time after school to take him on runs and play with him, in addition to school and sports and violin?  They're so busy.  Chaim has the most time, but Chaim doesn't play with him on his own.  I wish he could.  I feel like that would be huge.  But I can't change that.  

So, I'm sitting here typing, going on and on and on, because it means I don't have to take him to the shelter yet.  He can stay here a bit longer and sleep and be cozy, and I can pretend that he'll be ours for a bit longer.  Kota--you are the dog that melted my heart.  I just wish you were the dog that we could keep forever.  

Copywriting #6: Sour Grape to Vintage Wine

REALLY struggling with this one.  I've been putting it off for a week (maybe longer?)  I'm just gonna bust it out today, and move on.

Step One:  identify the "insane" person's seemingly unattainable goal.  (w/ soccer players: wanting to be on the World Cup Team.)

Step Two:  lower the bar some for diminished expectation audiences (maybe not world cup right now for a 13-year old, but why not getting on to a higher ranked team).  

Step Three:  offer product or service (get more time on the ball w/ a soccer camp)

THE ACTUAL AD:

"That's me when I'm 19." Meg says as she watches another World Cup game.  She has the schedule mapped out on her wall, watching every game.  Her own team schedule is mapped out beside it...a string of losses with her current team.

Maybe she won't get on the World Cup Team at 19, but it's possible to prepare for the next round of tryouts, and get on a higher-ranked team, a team with a string of wins.  A team that allows your daughter to learn more.  Play harder.  Definitely play smarter.

That playing smarter can start now.  Help her get more time on the ball while she has the time off for summer.  Sign up for Soccer Camp!  Soccer Camp is a great way to work on individual skills.  A great way to get more time and touches on the ball.  It's what every player needs.  

This local soccer camp is coached by local youth.  They'll help your daughter or son work on skills they need for the next round of tryouts.  

(okay for now--leaving it, and might come back to work on it later today or tomorrow.  But at least it is started!)

Copywriting #5: Emotional Math with Soccer Campos

I'm writing this one as an example flyer for soccer camps, since my girls are hosting a soccer camp this week.  They were hoping for 12 kids to sign up, and only have 5 (including their brother).  So, that makes 4 official paying players.  Not bad for their first-ever soccer camp, but it could definitely be improved.  I think I'd like to tackle how to advertise it more--maybe even to get a few more players for tomorrow?  Maybe for next year?  I think they have a really good idea--an affordable soccer camp for younger kids (ages 6-10).  They are 12 and 13, have been playing 8 years, the last 2 competitively, and they know quite a bit about soccer.  Helping others catch the vision...

THE COPY:

Soccer Camp is a great way to quickly increase individual skills!  It's even better than soccer practice, where the focus is on team play.  But here's the catch:  every coach expects the players to have individual skills, which begs the question:  where are they supposed to learn it?!  

The answer is SOCCER CAMP!!   

Soccer camp is totally worth the money--because the emphasis is on individual skills.  Skills like:

• footwork
• dribbling
• shooting goals
• throw-ins
• pull-backs
• and clearance kicks

If you've been saying to yourself, "I sure wish that Kate could be more confident on the field!", this is the camp to sign up for!  Or thought to yourself at the last game, "If he could improve in footwork, he'd really be a great player", then sign up now to lock in your spot!  

The Krim Soccer Camp is only $15 for 3 days of intense, individual coaching.  

Copywriting #4: College Prep Course (again w/ different aspect)

College Admissions is a Changing Landscape, and only the Richest can Play the Game...

Until NOW!

Instead of paying thousands of dollars for college prep, you can receive affordable and quality college prep for much less!  

You can access college-admissions results you want and need for much less when you buy the "College Knowledge 101" Program.  This digital course has all the same information as the big college-prep companies, because it was created by a former school counselor.  This counselor saw firsthand what would work and not work for the admissions game.  Instead of keeping these secrets, she wants to share them with YOU! 

For only $250, you can access the digital program that helps level the playing field of getting to and through college.  

You don't have to shell out thousands for college-prep meetings with an advisor that is servicing multiple students.  Instead, get this program, and access the program that answers:

• what sort of extra-curriculars are valued the most in admissions?
• where can a student receive the best financial aid package, when their family is in the middle-income bracket?
• how early should a student start considering college admissions?

Those questions probably sound familiar, right?  You don't have to figure it out alone.  Instead, sign up for this program that allows you to learn from others (both mistakes AND successes).  You'll save dozens of hours of personal research, with much better results.  Help yourself help your student make it to the college they want, for the affordable rate of $250.

Copy Assignment #3: How to say YES when your kids want a Dog

The request comes daily:  "Can we get a dog?"  

While the response has stayed the same for years:  "No".  Make that an emphatic "No!"

It's easy to understand why:  you wonder if you can handle a dog.  What if he barks constantly?  How fast could a dog destroy the furniture?  How do I handle a puppy jumping up on guests?  And the perennial question:  how long does it take to house train a dog?  That last question has kept your home dog free for years, because you simply don't have the time or energy to train a dog or clean up messes.  

I understand those fears, because my friend Ruth had the same ones.  She was always telling her kids  they couldn't get a dog.  For years she told them various reasons, and they really couldn't.  They didn't have the money, or her husband was in school, and there were so many demands on their time.  And a personal worry:  how would she keep up with cleaning all that dog hair?!  But she also recognized that a dog would be good for her kids.  A dog would help them get outside and exercise.  They would have to be responsible and feed the dog.  Her son could teach tricks and learn about daily habits.   But it still wasn't enough until she saw an ad for the animal shelter.

The animal shelter has a lot of dogs that need a good home, and many of these dogs are already trained.  You can get a more mature dog that knows to "sit and stay".  A dog that is house trained and will save your new carpet from multiple stains.  These dogs may have been abandoned by their former owners, or lost and never reclaimed.  They simply want to be loved and are very anxious to please their new owners.  These dogs are much more affordable than buying a purebred dog.  The adoption fee from an animal shelter is only $25.  And besides that, future dog owners can opt to "foster" a dog to make sure it's the right fit.  The right fit for the dog. The right for for the human.  

My friend Ruth told her kids they could possibly get a dog, and told them that very thing:  they needed to find the right dog for their family.  After doing a little bit of browsing on the animal shelter website, they found a few dogs that would be a good fit for their family:  past the puppy stage, house-trained, and good around kids.  

They went to the shelter on a couple different days, falling in love with several dogs.  They researched more about the dog breeds, and then picked the right dog for their family, their home and yard.  They are now fostering the dog with the option to adopt, and are so happy.  They had found the dog that met all they needed:  house-trained, calm around children, and minimal dog hair.  Ruth is relieved that she doesn't have to do it all alone.  Her children are big helpers with the dog:  taking him on walks, teaching him some new tricks, and helping him feel comfortable with lots of time and attention.  More than anything, Ruth is realizing how much joy the dog brings her.  She always thought the dog would be for her children...she didn't realize that she needed the dog!  Ruth loves how the dog will sit next to her while she is working and helps her feel safe when alone at home.  And an extra perk is that the dog gets her up for a morning run (instead of hitting the snooze button 5 times!).  

I know it's scary to get a pet, and that's why the Animal Shelter is there to help anyone looking to adopt a dog.  They help you foster without having to pay, and then keep the price low to allow more families to put that money towards dog food and dog treats rather than breeding fees!  If you've been saying no for years to a dog, it might be time to check out the animal shelter.  

Copy Assignment #2: Soccer Training for Wannabe Soccer Moms

I had a lot of fun writing this copy!  I stressed less, wrote faster, and laughed all throughout...because I've totally been there!  (And from what I've heard, there are similar rules in almost every sport / activity).  This is definitely written with a tongue-in-cheek sentiment after 8 years of being at soccer games (2 as a soccer mom, 6 as a coach)  Enjoy!  

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You do remember that feeling--showing up to the meeting and not fitting in?  And no, we're not talking about the 8th grade club meeting where you felt out of place and in over-your-head--we're talking about the first meeting for your son's soccer season where you also felt out of place and in over-your-head.  How did this happen?    

You had put it into the planner, set several reminders, and were even there 5 minutes before it began.  

Check

Check

Triple Check

The problem wasn't showing up--the problem was not knowing how to show up.  You had come straight from work, and while your professional slacks with blouse and blazer help you work your magic at the office, they don't help you with this "soccer mom" gig.  And the thing is:  you want to be a soccer mom, because those are going to be your people in the evenings and weekends for the near (and far) future.

We get it, because we've been there, too.  We've juggled working mom gig and the soccer mom gig plenty, and there are a few unwritten rules that will make your life easier, as well as more enjoyable.  We've put together a simple checklist to help you know:

• what to wear to team meetings
• when it is appropriate to stay for team practice, when you should leave
• how to talk to the coach about your son's practice (because he's really the star, obviously...)
• which chairs are "in", and which chairs are so last-year
• the hottest umbrella and canopy trends to keep you looking cool
• and so many other "unwritten rules" to help you rock the "soccer mom" gig

This checklist is your way to show up to every meeting, practice, and game as the Boss that you are.  We know you're busy, and want you to get back to doing the dozens of things you are doing without stressing about the upcoming soccer team party anymore (yes, the checklist covers those situations, too!).  For the small sum of $4.95, we will share this checklist with you immediately.  And if you're not certain by the next soccer tournament that you've learned your share of soccer terms and rules (off sides, anyone?!) and rules for engaging with parents of the opposite team (the trick is in the timing--before or after the match!), then you simply contact us for a total refund.  No questions asked.  We just want to get this checklist into as many up-and-coming soccer moms' screens as possible!  This is the fast-track to ridding yourself of the feeling you had at the last meeting, and replacing it with the competence you know in other aspects of your life, and can experience it here, too.

If ready to swap out that feeling of imposter soccer mom, and replacing it with soccer mom extraordinaire, click the link below to receive the most comprehensive soccer-mom checklist in mere minutes!

soccertraining4soccermoms.com