Our favorite day of the week, Monday Meet a Moms! This week we are sharing Christine Fisher, a very busy mom of three boys who is also a high school English teacher and the club administrator for Nationals Soccer Capital Area.
As a mom of three active boys—aged 16, 13, and 8— “Having a son in high school, another in junior high, and my youngest in elementary school brings its share of chaos, but it’s mostly a lot of fun!” Christine shares how she balances life with grace, humor, and a supportive husband who helps make it all possible.
Christine is also the Club Administrator for Nationals Soccer Capital Area. This area soccer club has grown from about 350 players to over 600 players in the past three years! She shares insights into why her family made the transition from recreational soccer to club soccer and how this change has significantly helped her boys develop their skills on the field.
If you have a high school son interested in trying out for club soccer, tryouts are happening Tuesday, November 5 at Hope Soccer Complex. More information can be found in the graphic below.
Welcome to Greater Lansing Area Moms, Christine💚⚽️
Please introduce yourself, where are you from, where do you reside now, where you went to school, etc? Please give us an overview of all things, Christine!
I’m a high school English teacher, a club administrator for soccer for Nationals Capital Area and a mom of three active boys. I’m lucky to have an incredibly supportive husband who helps make all that I do possible.
How old are your children?
16, 13, and 8
Where did you and your husband meet? Or a first date if local?
We met on eHarmony, an online dating site. Our first date was at Brighton Bar and Grill because he was working at The Detroit News at the time and I was working at Holt High School, so Brighton was a logical in-between spot.
What do you think is one of the best parts about being a mom?
I love how each of my kids is a unique and special person, and it’s fun to see their personalities, passions, talents, and interests develop. Having a son at high school, junior high, and elementary school has been a lot of fun – and a bit chaotic, but mostly fun.
What is a piece of advice for new moms you wish you would have known when you were a new mom?
Say yes whenever you can. Jumping in puddles? Sure. Climbing a tree? Yep, just not too high. Cereal for dinner? Yes, please! They’re only in the puddle-jumping, tree-climbing, mud-pie making stage for a short while.
Please tell us more about being the Club Administrator for the Nationals Capital Area club team and the club itself!
I’m so proud of our work at Nationals Capital Area. The club has grown from about 350 players to over 600 players in the past three years, and I know it’s because each player is able to experience success at their level. We offer everything from a Boys Academy, which travels regionally throughout the Midwest, to more local teams. The coaches are knowledgeable, passionate, and challenge our players to reach their full potential. We are also lucky enough to have a great venue on site for families while the kiddos are training– Cleats Bar and Grill has the best fries around and an amazing patio during warm weather.
As the Area Club Manager, I handle registration and rostering, as well as acting as the “manager of team managers”, which involves helping our parent volunteers with any questions or issues they have. I also have a role in marketing and social media.
What is the most rewarding part of this position? Most challenging?
The most rewarding is definitely working with the managers and coaches. Any time I’m able to help someone solve a problem or help someone feel more confident in their role, that’s a good day. We’re so blessed to have some wonderful people who give of their time and energy, and I’m always happy to support them.
The most challenging aspect is that the role is unpredictable. Something may come up that’s an urgent situation and needs to be dealt with immediately and that can be hard to balance with my day job.
Do you have any advice for parents thinking about having their child sign up for a club soccer team?
Prioritize development. Training is where most of the growth occurs, and game day is where they get to show what they’ve learned. So make sure your choices are in the best interest for your player long-term. Maybe they will initially start on a lower team, but is there room for them to grow and advance to the next level.
Can you tell us a bit about how club soccer tryouts work? When is the best time to join a club soccer team?
Most players join in June, when the tryouts occur for the next fall, but we also have a supplemental tryout for high school boys after their school season ends in November. We add players throughout the year, as well. My oldest son joined club soccer eight years ago in November, after his rec season had ended and we decided that a move to club would be best for his development. So there are options to join mid-season or mid-year.
Our June tryouts typically involve a couple of open house sessions where the prospective players can train with the team and coach to see if the team is the right fit for them. Then we have two days of tryout sessions where a pair or trio of coaches work with the players and evaluate the best placement for them. Coaches then make an offer for the team they feel best fits the player right now.
If you would like, please share about your day job being a teacher at Holt Public Schools –
I am a 10th and 11th grade English teacher at Holt High School. I’m just starting my 26th year there, and I still love my job. One of the aspects I’m enjoying most right now is knowing my current students in a different light because my own kids attend Holt as well. Teaching my sons’ friends and teammates is a new insight into their world.
How do you balance being a mom and your career(s)?
Both my teaching job and my role with Nationals allows me to see my kids in their element, so while it’s a lot of responsibility some times – and I definitely don’t have all the time I’d like to clean the house or keep up the garden – I think it’s worth it for these years when we’re already busy running in all directions. At least I’m running with them.
Here are a couple of questions to get to know you better 🙂
Favorite account or two on Instagram?
Last book you read?
The last book I read was loaned to me by a friend and is written by a local author: Once a Queen by Sarah Arthur.
What is your favorite TV show or series?
I’m currently watching Only Murders in the Building on Hulu. And we watch a lot of Premier League Soccer in our house.
Favorite soccer product that helps make life a bit easier?
Sweat X laundry detergent is amazing for those really stinky or really grass-stained items. And a boot dryer from Aldi has been a god-send because we can take it with us to tournaments to help dry out wet cleats!
Must have beauty or skincare product?
Estee Lauder moisturizer with sunscreen
Do you have a favorite podcast?
I listen to “What A Day” from Crooked Media each morning to stay up to date on current news.
Are you a morning person, or a night owl?
Definitely a morning person!
Where are some of your favorite places locally to spend time with your family/family favorites – restaurants, attractions, events, parks, etc?
Cleats Bar and Grill at Hope Sports Complex, of course!
Burchfield Park has an amazing “Dirt School” path to let kids (young to older) try mountain biking, with ramps, tunnels, curved walls, etc.
If you haven’t ever seen a Lansing City Futsal game, you should check out a game at Lansing City Arena – it’s like a fast-paced, small-scale version of soccer, with a weighted ball on a hard court. Their home opener is December 7.
Any fun plans for the Fall?
Soccer, cider, pumpkins and more soccer. 😊
How do you prefer readers to connect with you if they would like more information or would like to connect?
Email works best since I’m teaching during the day: [email protected]
Are you interested or know of someone who would make a great GLAMoms Meet a Mom? Send a message to [email protected] and we will take it from there!
Would you like to read about more amazing GLAMoms Meet a Moms? Click HERE for more!
This article contains sponsored content.
