Sometimes, They Just Need Time

Our oldest son, the Sports Fanatic, is a very big football fan.  I have blogged often about his love for football in the past, and to this day football reigns king.  He lives for football season, and loves nothing more than wearing that uniform and being with his team.

Last year, since we were on the field just about every night anyway with our Sports Fanatic, we asked LLG (who was 5) if he wanted to play football.

He wasn't so sure.

We waited it out, and he eventually asked to join tackle football.  I remember being excited, and nudging him to do it, but at the same time being afraid.

He was little.  He was very little.  His nature was still very much that of a little boy, and I worried about him on that field.  I worried he would hate the pads and the "get tough or get out" mentality of football.  But like just about everything else in my life, I waffled between this worry and the excitement of having two boys playing football.

To make a long story short, LLG lasted only five days on that field.  He didn't understand the game, and he didn't have that "hit somebody!" mentality.  After one tough hit at practice he cried to me, "They didn't even say they were sorry!"

My heart was broken for him.  I knew I pushed him into something he wasn't ready for.  I felt responsible, and because of it I let him quit.

I was comfortable with the idea he may never want to play football.  Maybe it just wasn't for him.

Fast forward nine months.  He is a year older, seven pounds heavier and two inches taller.  He played basketball this past winter and is in the middle of his flag football season.  A few weeks ago we mentioned tackle football, only because sign ups were around the corner. 

He asked to play.

Remembering the nightmare that was last August, I said no.  I told him to wait another year.  The memories of his tears and watching him struggle through practice were too fresh in my mind.  LLG agreed.

A week later, we asked him again how he felt.  He told us he wanted to play THIS year.

We told him to wait a few more weeks to see how he felt.  We went over the dedication, the hard work, and the heavy equipment.  He remembered it all.  And he still asked to play.

Today was the last sign up at the local football fields.  We were already there for the flag games, and sign ups were until 11am.  Hubby looked at me and asked what we were going to do about LLG.  I told him to ask LLG one more time, and as I did LLG looked at us and told us to stop asking.

Guess who got in line at 10:50am.

I guess this kid is ready for some football.  And this Mama is holding her breath, praying he is now ready to "Hit Somebody!".  If his flag performances are any indication, he is going to be just fine.

Sometimes they just need to grow; to experience a little more of what this world has to offer.  Sometimes, they just need TIME.

Here's to more chaos come August.  Happy Monday!

Summer Barbeques

I am so ready for summer barbques.  Family, friends, food and drinks.  Good music, warm air and the sound of crickets in the grass. 

Is there nothing better?

With summer on the brain, here are some of my current Pinterest favorites:

Easy Barbeque Ribs

by Mmmm...is for Mommy

Barbeque Chicken Burgers

by Tracy's Culinary Adventures

Barbeque Chicken Quesadillas

by I Want a Nap

Barbeque Potato Chips

by Shugary Sweets

Those chips, with those quesadillas are welcome in my tummy anytime.  Along with the chicken burger.  Hubby, those ribs are for you.

 

Sorry for the stomach rumbles... 

The Weekend Ahead

Tomorrow, I am signing out my middle two munchkins from school a tad early.  We are heading to south Jersey, for a gymnastics meet.  The trip is several hours, and with an 8am start time Saturday our only option that included sleep was to leave Friday afternoon.

And our only option to avoid traffic was to to leave before 3pm.  My apologies to our central school system.

My mom is accompanying me and we are planning on squeezing in a dinner.  After dinner I will most likely insist on squeezing in a stop for ice cream.

A weekend away is never complete without trying the local ice cream.
 
Hubby is holding down the fort, with the oldest and the youngest.  I think we have evenly distributed trouble, making our arrangement very fair.  The oldest doesn't cause much trouble, unless of course he has his immediate younger siblings around to tease. 

Moopa, she causes trouble.

The middle two munchkins are double trouble, but they are also old enough to understand my stink eye.

Moopa doesn't give a poop about stink eyes.

Wish my Gymnastics Queen luck, there are two meets left in the season.  And this mama is ready for a little hiatus.

Happy weekend!

Socks and Underwear

The thing about socks and underwear is that I never remember to buy them.  I never notice when they are needed.  It's easy to spot pants that are too small (floods) or shirts that look ratty.  But underwear?  And socks?  Who ever notices that?

I remember several years ago when I was shopping with my friend, and she was picking up a pack of size 4/5 undies for her son.  He was three, and ready for some bigger undergarments.

My son was almost six, and it dawned on me at that moment that he was still wearing size 2/3 undies. 

I have the same trouble with socks.  I match the same pairs over and over and over again, until I see "18-24 months" on the bottoms.  And I remember my daughter is 8.

Last night, LLG sat at the table and asked me to look at something.  As I walked towards him, he kicked out his foot and said, "Mom!  These socks are TRASH!"

Yup.  Those socks would be trash alright.  I told him he's lucky his pants fit.  And then I laughed and threw out his socks.

Happy Wednesday!  Time for me to buy some socks and underwear...

Life Lately

Something happens when you read The Fifty Shades of Grey.

Or shall I say something doesn't happen.

As of late my laundry service has been temporarily out of service.  My floors are in need of a scrub, and my blog....my poor blog.  I actually missed a day of posting.  I was too busy giggling, smirking and gasping as I turned over 250 pages yesterday.

My kids were even late to school Monday. I wonder if the late pass said "Mommy overslept.  She was up until 3am reading mommy porn."

That would be some late pass.

I am finished with book 2, Fifty Shades Darker.  And I am taking a small hiatus to get my life back in order.  I shall start Fifty Shades Freed this evening.

I need to spend naptime washing some underwear.  And socks.  And jeans.  I must draw the line at pulling clothes to wear from the hamper.
 
Happy Trails!

The Fifty Shades of Grey

 

A few weeks ago, I heard about the book The Fifty Shades of Grey.  Mommy friends informed me that it existed, and insisted I read it.  They whispered and we giggled and we discussed the hoopla surrounding the book.  They told me women are embarrassed to be seen buying it, but everyone is reading it.  Women are ordering copies online and downloading it onto their reading tablets.

I finally asked what the heck this book is even about?

"It's Twilight, but for adults..."

Ah.

And so I told other mommy friends about it.  And told them they had to read it because I've heard it is pretty amazing.  Amazingly dirty.  And erotic.  And shocking.  Several of my friends have tablets, and so they downloaded it.

And they read it.  Fast.

I do not have a tablet.  I drove around, hopelessly looking for a paperback version of The Fifty Shades of Grey.  I was not at all embarrassed to ask for the book.  I'm a mommy.  I clean poop and wipe runny noses all day, I need this dammit!

Embarrassment is a thing of the past.  I asked everyone in every store.  I wanted to read whatever this book had everyone smirking about. 

I can confirm that it is nearly impossible to find this book in any store.  The Fifty Shades of Grey has officially swept New York State and moms everywhere are gasping and giggling as they turn each page.

I wasn't one of these moms...until Friday.  One of my friends who has a tablet insisted I borrow it for the weekend.  She lovingly loaned me her tablet, assuring me I was in for a wild ride.

Since I flicked that first page I have completely ignored that my family needs clean clothes. And food.  I have slept eight hours this entire weekend and left my tips at work Friday night because I rushed home to read the Nook.

I'm groggy, exhausted, behind on my laundry and completely in awe of this man.  And this woman.  And I feel as though I'm back in high school sex education with Mr.S every time I start a new chapter.

How much could possibly exist that I never even knew was possible?  Apparently, a lot.

And holy heck is this book somethin' else.

I have ten pages left, and I have already purchased the next book in the series, Fifty Shades Darker.  I will read the last two books like I'm back in 1990, page turning style.  Unless of course the Nook or Kindle Fairy drops a package on my doorstep.

And when I finish the series I will get to cleaning the 50 Shades of Dirt that is my kitchen floor.

Ladies, happy reading.  Brace yourselves.