Painting the Blue Line Pink.

We are a Canadian Family. That means we know about snow tires, cups with a rolled up rim, and hockey. Our game, our pride. We watch it, we play it and we bicker about it. We dream our sons will end up in the NHL.

When we had our first girl, her choice of sport wasn’t on our radar. We did the right thing and started her education fund. Fresh from the hospital I think I was actively lactating when we signed the papers at the bank.

Then girl number two came along. Same thing, and because standards fall with each child so she was (ahem) two when we set hers up.

Then came hockey. We went to the local arena to teach them to skate when they were 3 and 5. We pictured graceful little ballerinas on ice. Then the older one suddenly spotted the goalie warming up for hockey practice. She watched him for a bit, and turned to my husband and said “I want his costume”. The three year old then said the only words she ever needed “Me too”.

Flash forward a few years, and we are a full on hockey family. Both girls on competitive teams, crazy schedules, equipment replacements after every growth spurt.

(For the record, equipment bags are just as gross in girl locker rooms as they are for the lads. )

We live the hockey life and have chosen to make sacrifices to make sure the girls do what they love. Some families take warm vacations, we go to tournaments and spend our time together on road trips. We know all their teammates and their families. It is a tight group in the very small world of girls hockey. Playing a man’s sport, losing teeth just like the guys. Every time one of my girls is lying on the ice after a mid-air collision, I stop breathing. I wait to see what happens next. She gets up takes in some air and comes back like lightening across the ice.

I sometimes consider asking them if they want to try something else but I would be wasting my breath. They are hockey girls playing the game with grace and strategy. I like to think the game in female hands is more elegant.

I want them to play the sport they love, while in University, building their back up plan. Not everybody will ever make an income playing sports and not many will have the brains and the talent to get a scholarship. It is a frighteningly real possibility that one injury can derail the dreams of professional sport. There has to be another plan.

We still contribute to their education funds every month. Sometimes they play with duct tape on their equipment, and we certainly drive a van that could use some duct tape, but we make both priorities work. It is all worth it to see their shining faces as they lift a trophy over their heads in victory. It will be even more amazing to watch them cross the stage with a shiny degree in their hands.

That blue line will be a little more pink as the girls play our national game. They will be leaders in the classroom on the ice.

And if you are a Hockey family like we are, check out CST’s Beyond the blue line contest – where you could help your hockey team or organization win $10,000 to help make hockey less-expensive.

AND come join @CSTConsultants, @beyondtheblueline and @THNKenCampbell on December 17th at 9pm EST where they will be discussing the cost of hockey vs. Education and RESPs. The BLUNTmoms will be there too (and we KNOW how to twitter party!)

  Follow hashtag #hockeyvseducation – and participate for the chance to win 5 – $50 VISA gift cards!

“Disclosure: I am part of the C.S.T. Consultants Inc. – Beyond the blue line blogger program with Mom Central Canada and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.”