My husband is an amazing man. As assertive and aggressive he is with most people, he is so gentle and nurturing to our children. Neither of my children are die-hard athletes. My son plays on his school basketball team, and has tried his hand at football. My daughter played soccer, basketball, and loves dance, but both of them are quiet homebodies, who love the computer. Recently however, in the haze of world cup fever, my son has taken a liking to soccer. He went to a birthday party recently, and played a pick up soccer game with some of the children. He was so proud of himself when he realized he was pretty good at it. I wasn’t surprised considering he is a dancer.
This is cool because my husband is an immigrant who grew up playing soccer. Although he loves to play, he hasn’t in a while do to life, work, and no one to play with him. My son played soccer in a local league when he was 4, and hated it. My husband never pushed, instead he let my son decide the activities he likes. The result? My son plays 3 instruments, is on a competition dance team, and plays on his school basketball team. He gets good grades in school, and is even a peer mediator.
Last week however, my son came to me and asked me to buy him a soccer ball. Everyday since, he wants my husband to play with him when he comes home from work. I know for a fact, my husband loves it because as tired as he is, if he knows my son wants to play, he goes outside in a flash. I could watch them play all day, because even if this love of soccer is fleeting for my son, I know that right now my two men are spending quality time together, and in these moments, my husband can teach my son how to have fun, and in between kicks and head bunts, even become a man.
Mom. Wife. Lawyer. 