Brandi Chastain and her constant companion, son Jaden

That 11-month-old Jaden Chastain Smith accompanies his mom, soccer star Brandi Chastain, practically everywhere she goes is not by accident, and not by necessity — It is happily, deliberately, by choice.  Brandi says that taking Jaden to personal appearances, soccer matches, and other events is an important step towards normalizing the notion that having a child need not slow women down.

As much as I can, I love to take him with me.  And I’ve never really thought about it.  I think people need to see women with their kids out there doing things and being leaders and being interactive, because they’ll think ‘Oh, that’s normal.’  There’s no reason to stop what you’re doing.

Now that ex-teammates Mia Hamm and Julie Foudy are first-time moms, as well — Julie gave birth to daughter Isabel 5-months ago, while Mia had twins Grace and Ava in late March — the trio find themselves e-mailing less and less about soccer and more and more about their babies.  Nonetheless, Brandi, 38, hasn’t given up on the possibility of a return to the field sometime in the future.

I can’t say to kids to aspire to your dreams and not do the same thing.  That would be hypocritical.

Source:  San Francisco Chronicle