It's Football Time!

Cameron is my favorite boy. He is energetic, full of expression, fun-loving, smart and, of course, quite handsome. I try to keep his hair short so I can see that handsome face. However, his sisters would have it otherwise. They want him to have long hair. They believe long hair would be the best "Look" for him. I've had to quickly "shush" their fashion ideas because he takes their opinions very seriously. And once he decides something, it can be very difficult to convince him otherwise. Luckily, football season has come to my rescue. One of the requirements of being on the team is to have his hair shaved to a length no longer than the #2 on clippers. Amen. Below is his best attempt at being "big and bad, mean and mad". (This also happens to be the exact look he gives me when I ask him to do things like, clean his room, do his homework, brush his teeth, etc. It means..."I don't quite agree" or "You actually expect me to change my plans?")
The day we shaved his head we also had to pick up his practice gear. He was so excited he wore the only shirt he owns that has a graphic of a football player on it. However, this is a long sleeved shirt and it was a very hot and muggy morning. I was concerned that his behavior would be less than desirable. Somehow, he seemed to know that amidst these males, you don't whine or complain. He patiently waited with me in a very long line to be fitted for each piece of his gear. And as we walked to the car he was able to juggle all his gear and bottles of gatorade without my help. Having mom help was unaccaptable in this setting.


But he couldn't actually wear his gear on the field until he had completed his 10 hours of conditioning. He was excited about his preparation for conditioning week. And even though he had heard his coaches call it "Hell Week", I don't think he had a true appreciation for what was to come. Well, "It" came! Beginnning on Monday, each night last week he had two hours of intense workouts. The coaches had these boys doing push-ups, leg-lifts, high leg lift runs, running hills, running laps, crab walks, and other exercises that mimic the moves when playing football, etc. And when they had done all of these, they did it all over again. If they began to fall behind, or do something incorrectly, the coaches would yell something like, "What are doin'? Pickin' flowers or playin' football?!" or "What'sa matter? You wanna go hug your Mom?" or "Box it up tight, boys! We're playin' football!" or "Who said you can slow down? You wearin' your sisters shoes? We're not dancin' boys! We're playin' football!" You bet, it was just like boot-camp! No coddling here.



(pictures of his workouts to come; they aren't cooperating tonight)


And guess what? The boys L-O-V-E-D it!!!! (I praise the man who invented football) It is a complete God-send for boys. Just as girls have that sense to know who needs what, boys have a sense about how to "box-it-up", do "up-downs", be aggressive and just simply sweat. Within the boundaries of football it is okay to grunt, spit, tackle, run with all their might, and push themselves to limits they have never known before! In this setting, they are not in trouble for having so much energy! They are not only allowed to be rambunctious, it is expected! And it is all done in a safe place where neither they, nor their neighbors, get [intentionally] hurt. How great is that?!

So, to my son, who was so pleased with himself as he worked so hard this week at being a boy, I say, "Good Job and Rest Well!"