NBC has a new show coming out soon titled “Parenthood” and as the promos start to air, I see spot after spot of clips I know my mom will be using for her Love and Logic or other parenting classes. My favorite by far is below…

I played soccer for one year of my entire life.

3rd Grade

My glory years

Except I was bad, really bad.

I couldn’t quite get the coordination down of running and kicking at the same time. Plus when people are running at you or a soccer ball is flying towards you, the basic reaction is to avoid it at all cost. I WAS good at that.

My dad attended every one of my games faithfully. I am sure my mom did as well, but I cannot remember her at any of the games for the life of me. Probably because my dad was so memorable… He would get so into the game, standing on the sidelines, “cheering”, trying to turn my elementary school co-ed team into Manchester United. Bless his heart, but he was a bit of a “stage mom”. More into the game than the Coach Jordan and yelling what to do with large hand gestures. But because of his… enthusiasm(?!)… I wanted to be better and try harder.

However, I was still hopelessly bad and my Coach wasn’t starting me or pushing to get me on the field. If I was lucky, I might get 30 seconds at the end of the game if we were guaranteed a win.

Editor’s Note: Don’t feel sorry for Coach, I really was awful!

I was counting down the days until the season was over but I also wanted to make my dad proud. I learned to follow Coach around like a shadow. I was cheering on my team by her side and ready to go into the game *just in case* with an attitude that said “winner”. Most games it worked too, Coach would put me in because I was ready (not really able!) and I would push out there like I was David Beckham then avoid the ball as best as I could. She would pull me out within a minute and I would be back at her side asking to go in again.

On one of the bus rides home Coach stood up at the front of the bus to give us a talk after a humiliating loss. I don’t remember what she said before or after but I will never forget what she said in the middle…

If you guys want to be good players then you should start acting like Danielle. She isn’t the best person on this team but she is always close to me ready to go in. And although she doesn’t get much playing time when she isn’t on the field she is cheering and supporting the team.

I was elated! I thought I was a star. It took me about 10 years to realize that little speech was slightly demeaning but I’ve only recently accepted how terrible I was. I have come to realize that her speech spoke worlds about my character and set a tone for my life. I can’t be the best at everything but I can try and give it my all. With the right attitude, eagerness, and readiness I might even get some playing time.

If you want to walk on water, you’ve got to get out of the boat. – John Ortberg

It is officially, the entire Noah family is on Twitter.  Some of you may not be familar with my parents or sister but let me tell you why I think you should follow them:

Ray [@rnoah]: When my sister and I were still living at home, he successfully survived years of being the only male.  We got him countless male dogs but in the end Squire or Jake can’t protect him from 3 women.  Not only has he seen The Notebook, listened to Hilary Duff (and enjoyed it), folded our underwear and been told many stories of boyfriends who deserve to be exes BUT he has survived!!  By following his twitter, you will get daily updates on his blog, non-profit, and random RNOAH facts usually involving coffee.  He hasn’t quite mastered the fact that he too can follow people, but hopefully soon…

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Linda [@LindaNoah]: You have been warned… I am her mini me.  We look alike, we act alike, and we talk alike.  This can only lead to trouble.  When we are not fighting like cats and dogs over our similarities she is conquering the world one personality at a time.  She is a behavioral guru and can understand a person within a single handshake.  Team building, public speaking, marriage counseling, and parenting are all in her repertoir.  Having just joined this past weekend I cannot make any guarantees as to what will be tweeted but an estimation.  By following her twitter, you will potentially get links and tweets regarding communication arts, parenting, and updates usually centered around missing her daughters.

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Ashley [@ashleynoah]: Without shame I can promise you, Ashley is my better half.  If we were combined, we would create the perfect person.  She is book smart, while I am street smart.  I trust no one, she trusts most of everyone.  Tall, short. Blonde, brunette. Funny, funnier. Doesn’t matter who is who (Except I am the funnier one ), although we are different, our interest and passions are the same. Or maybe I am just a true younger sister and copy everything she does! Ash is currently getting her MBA at Kellogg in Chicago and still raising awareness and support for Ethiopia.  Needless to say, but I will say it anyway, Ashley is a giver and a world changer. Just like Linda, she is new to the twitter world but what I expect to read from her is her daily happenings in Evanston, MBA studies and activities, and Soli, Soli, Soli.

That is my family in a nutshell and hopefully you can get to know them as you get to know me as well.

For those not following me on twitter, you can find my updates at @dani_noah