Jessica McDonald, the Only Mom on US Women's Soccer Team, Dedicated Win to Son

Jessica McDonald proudly shares her sweet World Cup victory with her seven-year-old son who witnessed her hard work every step of the way. She also rejoices in representing all moms as she reveals struggling with childcare while training with the team.

She’s the only mother in the US women’s soccer team. So winning the 2019 World Cup wasn’t just a national and personal victory for team forward, Jessica McDonald. It was her gift to her seven-year-old son, Jeremiah.

HER VICTORY WAS SWEET

“We did it, bud!!!?? #WorldChamps,” Jessica wrote to caption a photo of her son sprinkling confetti on her after her team beat the Netherlands and ultimately bagged the women’s World Cup title this year. The victory is her sweetest to date having been a neophyte in the competition and being able to share it with her son.

McDonald's hard work also entailed a lot of setbacks. She admitted struggling with childcare while she was busy training with the team.

IT WAS A WIN FOR ALL MOTHERS

For the 32-year-old, it was more than playing for the US or her family, it was about representing “all the moms out there,” she said ahead of the finals.

And what was even cooler was the fact that her 7-year-old son was there to witness his mother’s hard work paying off. He joined her in most of the tournament and even held the trophy for her after winning the championship in Lyon, France.

"The most important thing to me right now is that he witnesses it all," said Jessica in a post-win interview with Into The Gloss. "I want that to inspire him. I want him to know what hard work is going to get him.”

Jeremiah was Jessica's plus one when she attended the ESPYs where Sanrdra Bullock presented an award to her team.

THERE WERE HURDLES ALONG THE WAY

Jessica's hard work also entailed a lot of setbacks. She admitted struggling with childcare while she was busy training with the team.

“I had to find new babysitters and childcare all the time. Childcare, in particular, was very difficult, because it’s expensive and we don't get paid much. If I put (my son) in a daycare, that's my entire paycheck, you know?"

Jessica's teammates who couldn't relate to her plight as a mother admired her for looking out for her son while training relentlessly with the team. They recall her waking up earlier than the rest so she could attend to Jeremiah.

With very few moms in the National Women’s Soccer League, (they’re only seven in total) there have been very few steps taken to address their concerns. Fortunately, the US Soccer Federation took the task of footing the bill for Jessica's nanny services for Jeremiah while he joined her in France for the World Cup. This has been a practice that began in 1998 when fellow soccer moms Joy Fawcett and Carla Overbeck lobbied for the arrangement.

Early this year, the US women’s soccer team filed a case against the US Soccer Federation accusing it of gender discrimination resulting in a huge pay gap between the men and the women in the sport.

THERE WAS ALSO AN ISSUE CONCERNING UNEQUAL PAY

The problem of paying for childcare can also be traced to the less than commensurate pay women soccer players have been receiving, an issue that was brought to light recently.

Early this year, the US women’s soccer team filed a case against the US Soccer Federation accusing it of gender discrimination resulting in a huge pay gap between the men and the women in the sport. The fight for equal pay was highlighted even more after the women’s team won the World Cup. Though each player received $250,000 for winning, it was still a small amount compared to what men are entitled to receive if they won too.

BUT IT WAS ULTIMATELY A DREAM COME TRUE

Regardless, Jessica is just happy right now to be able to live her dream with her son.

"This was my dream, and so for my dream to actually come true... and for my kid to be able to witness that?" she said. "He's seven, so he's at an age where he's going to remember this.”

Jeremiah was Jessica's plus one when she attended the ESPYs where Sanrdra Bullock presented an award to her team. The star forward from Phoenix, Arizona even shared a photo of their mother-son date. It is indeed a beautiful time for their small unit and we can only smile in delight watching them relish this moment.