It's Hockey Night in Ponte Vedra, FL

It’s Hockey Night In Canada! I heard that on the TV pretty often as a kid growing up in Toronto….

Now I live in Florida and believe this if you can, they are becoming the number one state for hockey. I guess all of the NHL players prefer to live in the sun rather than the cold! I don’t blame them!

My kids play hockey and have played since they were little kids.  I cannot even begin to tell you how strongly I feel about team sports. I feel they are incredibly valuable for a child’s mental development and if they have the interest, encourage them to play on a team for a sport that they love. 

To me, team sports develop so many strengths and important qualities for a child. Independence, responsibility, sportsmanship, bonds, challenges with other children and coaches that will teach them how to rise above as children later serving them well as adults in business and in life.

I recognize that not all kids enjoy sports and this is not an option for all.  Trust me when I tell you, it hasn’t been an easy ride for my family.  All sports are competitive, kids grow at different paces and mature at different levels.  They don’t always make the team, or the top team, or get the coach they want or get to stay with the kids they have grown up with. It’s no easy feat. This year, my younger son won his State Championships and my older son played double A which is a huge accomplishment.  I’m so proud of them both.

Of course, being the Party Girl that I am, I offered to host both of their end of year Parties and couldn’t be more excited about it.

For my younger son’s party, I hosted in one of the pavilions in my town. It’s the perfect place to host 12-13 year old kids because there’s tons of space for them to run around, there’s a pool, there’s a playground for the younger siblings and the pavilion is covered so the adults could sit and enjoy food, drinks and each other’s company. 

I enlisted Jessica Chard of To The Moon Party Designs to install an awesome balloon garland with a congrats message on one of the balloons to celebrate the kids big win.

I set the buffet with The Social Society’s custom designed hockey cups and cocktail napkins.  I brought in pizza from Bronx House Pizza which is a local spot in the same plaza as my store. And I asked all of the families to contribute drinks, snacks and dessert.  

The kids had a blast and so enjoyed their special time together, celebrating their accomplishments and bonding as a team, off the ice.

My older son’s party is later next month and we will host at my house where the older kids can swim in the backyard, enjoy the hot tub, play basketball on the driveway and BBQ some delicious food.

I’m forever grateful for the teams that my children have had the opportunity to play on and for the friendships that we have all made.

For any team party that you’re celebrating, at any point during the year, please be sure to visit The Social Society for all sports related party-ware.  We have supplies for it all - soccer, baseball, pickle ball, tennis, golf and of course, hockey!