Mini Me

Maybe every parent wants a child who takes after them. I know that my husband hoped for that (even if he wouldn’t admit it), and he definitely got it. Cole wants to be just like his daddy. It may have started with the love of lacrosse, but now it’s just become comical with every little imitation. Cole loves to work out like his dad. Kevin shadow boxes. Cole flails his arms around. Kevin does pushups. Cole lies next to him doing his version, bobbing his head up and down. Kevin does his “6 inch” ab workout. Cole lies next to him, lifts his legs, and laughs. My guys also have a morning routine that they go through together. When Kevin puts his hair gel in, Cole ruffles his own hair to imitate his dad. They brush their teeth together, “shave” together, and put on deodorant together. If Kevin does it, Cole has to do it. I roll my eyes and laugh, but I think I’m secretly a little jealous. Kevin says that if we have a girl, she will be a little nerdy and will spend her time reading and correcting people by saying “actually” before pleading her case. Man, I sure hope so.

Cole "gargling" his mouthwash and putting on body spray.

Future Lax Star

When Cole was born, a friend of ours bought him Fiddle Sticks. For those of you who are lacrosse novices (like I was until I met Kevin), these are mini lacrosse sticks. I laughed and thought it was cute and figured they would sit in a corner collecting dust. Then one day, probably a few months ago, Cole picked up one of those sticks and started walking around with it. Then both sticks made it out to the living room with the rest of his toys. Before I knew it, Kevin was showing him how to hold the stick with two hands and check people. Yes, our 1 year old knows how to check. Every day when we get home, the first “toy” that he goes for is his lacrosse stick. When we go out somewhere, we don’t take a blankie or a favorite stuffed animal; we take the stick. He can hit hard enough with it now that I have a tendency to cringe when he gets too close to breakables and my face with it.

And nothing gets my son as excited as watching the “big boys” play.  Despite being an active kid who likes to run around, if we go to see a lacrosse game when his dad is coaching, Cole will sit there glued to the field and watch the entire game. The team moms have even commented on how he is like a little doll, sitting so still in his stroller. But he must know the difference between practice and a game, because when it’s a practice, he can’t wait to run out onto that field and play. He doesn’t even seem to notice that the other kids are towering over him.

I don’t mind all of this, because despite not growing up with it, I think lacrosse is a great sport. But it makes me wonder… can you inherit the love of a game?