I showed you how good Kyle was at soccer. Stewart and I were very proud. This 7 weeks of Tiny Tots Sports instruction at a local park is Kyle’s first organized sports involvement of any kind. The next week was a different story. The kids played basketball with lowered nets on a court in full sun on a 80 degree day. Kyle lasted about 20 minutes before he walked up to the coach and declared “I’m never gonna do ‘dis.”
We cajoled and bargained and threated him for about 20 more minutes before we finally gave up. We don’t want to force him to take part in the class. After all, he’s only three, and it’s something he should enjoy, not dread. But what we really wanted him to do was at least try – even if he never made a basket or ran as fast as the other kids, we wanted him to listen, wait his turn, and try.
Enter the Olympics. What a perfect time to show Kyle what athletic determination and achievement are.
On Friday night after dinner, we bathed the children, put on NBC and hunkered down for a long night of watching the opening ceremonies of the Olympic games. I didn’t expect much in the way of attention spans of our little rugrats, but believe it or not, they watched it. It didn’t hurt that the ceremony was spectacular. We explained some of the different elements to Kyle, who was most fascinated by the fireworks, which were powerful even on TV. He was also transfixed when the ceremony spotlighted children.
Brady spent most of the time playing with toys, something he doesn’t get to do without being trampled or otherwise disturbed by Kyle. But with Kyle occupied by the opening ceremonies, Brady was left to his own devices and it was fun to watch him play by himself. By 9:00, however, he was climbing on and off the couch and us, restless and whiny, so we put him to bed. Kyle stayed up until 10:00, when his parents both started falling asleep. We hit “record” on the remote, popped a Darvocet, and went to bed. (The Darvocet was just me – for my bad back. That explains my crazy Chinese/Cirque du Soleil dreams.)
On Saturday morning we pulled out the crayons and some paper and taught Kyle how to draw the Olympic rings:
Two days later, we’re still watching the opening ceremonies. Kyle keeps asking for the fireworks, the drums, and the children in costumes. He saw Michael Phelps on the front page of the paper and asked who he is and why is his picture there? We explained how he is a swimmer and he practices very hard and he swam really fast so he won the race and now he gets to wear a gold medal around his neck. “What’s his name?” Kyle asked, and we told him. “Michael Phelps,” he whispered to himself. He concentrated on the thought, and while he did so, I silently begged Michael Phelps to continue to be a good person and not get caught up in a scandal with drugs, crime, or hoochie mamas, so that I don’t have to someday explain that to my son.
We watched Michael Phelps destroy the world record in that gold medal event. Here’s hoping he is and remains a great role model for all kids! Is swimming a selection for the sports camp?
Thats a pretty cool camp. a different sport every week? Wonder what he really thinks of the olympics….
Gus and Gabe are caught up in the Olympics as well. Gabe declared himself to be Michael Phelps today at swimming lessons and Gus has his mind set to be a gymnast.