In an attempt to stay away from TV, I've started turning to crafts after school. This usually involves downloading coloring pages from the internet, but sometimes we go on pinecone hunts and make turkeys that look half fowl half like Joanne's dollar aisle vomited on some branches.

Today it was cotton balls from the 99cent store glued onto cut out cardboard circles from my new Braun coffee press box. It matters to the children not a stitch that the snowman bellies are more misshapen than Lindsay Lohan's liver after a bender. The kids are just happy to stick cotton on them (The circles, not Lindsay Lohan.)

While I'm thrilled that my creativity is keeping my children entertained, I do worry that I'm not providing the most physical example for my kids. Rex is no better. "Let's throw a football around the yard!" Um, no. But play a game of Pong on a thirty year old Atari? Look out, some testorone is going to fly!

Lest you tell me I'm being a bit neurotic about my concerns, let me regale you with a story my cousin reminded me of this past weekend. Last year Stink was at Costco eating his way through the samples. A large man in a red apron handed him a meatball.

Stink:  "Mmm, delicious meatball!" (Then, staring at the man.) "You have a very warm face."

Man: (Taken aback, big Bronx accent) "Thanks, kid. Hey, you must be five."

Stink: "How did you know? Do you have a magic eye like my mommy that can read my brain?"

Man: "No. But my grandson is five and he's about your size. He likes to play sports. Do you?"

Stink: Horrifed. "NOOOOOOOO! I am a dancer!"

I'm just sayin'.


More of my writing can be found daily at BabyCenter and Good Housekeeping.

 


Comments

phd in yogurtry

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 21:21:56

Every woman wants a man who dances! Dance little Stink, dance!

 

His Girl Amber

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 21:42:21

my kids are sports-impaired as well. poor things don't know what it's like to watch a ball game, much less play one... *shrug* I just tell myself that if God wanted my children to become athletes, He wouldn't have sent them to our house. haha.

 

JCK

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 21:50:23

You have a very warm face.

I love your boy!

Hey, and dancing IS exercise, by GOD.

 

Sprite's Keeper

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 05:49:21

What's wrong with dancing? :-)

 

Just Jiff

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 08:56:32

LMAO. That's hilarious!

 

Heidi

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 09:12:13

Impromptu crafts are wonderful. All the time if the kids totally don't want to play with anything else I give them construction paper and tell them to make Mommy an "I Love You" card.

And what's wrong with ancient game consoles, eh? We bought an original Nintendo from a yard sale a couple years back for $10. Everyone loves it! How can you not like the original Mario Brothers or duck hunt?

 

Karin

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 09:48:11

Oh Lordy. Drop that kid over here. There's enough testosterone and sports equiptment to turn him into Bret Favre in about 15 seconds. I think I have the opposite problem. We need to work out a system so our kids our well rounded. I'll trade you one Atari for two footballs.

 

Kingsmom

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:58:51

Gotta love they magic eye of the mother!

 

Liza's Eyeview

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 20:43:47

Nothing wrong with being a dancer!

My son loves doing hip hop moves! The only sports he's got is taekwondo. maybe your son would enjoy taekwondo too :)

 

Deb

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 20:29:27

I laughed so hard when I read this I think I peed my pants =) God love ya Andrea - Thanks for the belly laugh - I needed it today!

 

gretchen

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 07:52:15

Gosh, but we worry too much, don't we? About the physical example, the too much TV, the manners, the schooling, the dancing...It's a giant worry-fest. I for one am glad that Stink is a dancer. Check that worry off the list. ;)

 



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