My Real Life

September 12, 2010

Football Daze

Filed under: Uncategorized — Amy @ 7:13 pm
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Monkey in the Middle had his first football game on Saturday.

Oh, how I love to watch that little boy.

He’s in the stance and ready to go!

So adorable, right?

I mean…what a macho football player.

So in love with that little boy.

Oh, and with this little girl, who could have cared less about what was happening on the field.

Instead, she spent all of her time with her best bud on the swing.

Swinging?

Yes.

Playing and talking?

No.

Doing what they do best.

October 20, 2009

Dichotomy

Filed under: Uncategorized — Amy @ 6:04 am
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I love this picture. 

dichotomy 002

I love this picture for two reasons.

1)      It is a picture of Monkey in the Middle and I love that kid.

2)      It shows the dichotomy that is Monkey in the Middle, and it reminds me that you can’t put people in a neat little box and label them. 

Look again.

dichotomy 003

Here he is.  A five-year old boy.

On the one hand, he is setting up the board after beating one of his grandpas at chess this morning.  He loves chess.  He just loves this game. 

My Dad will tell me that Monkey in the Middle sees moves way before they are made and when he gets my Dad in check he’ll say things like “Didn’t you see that Bishop, Grandpa?”  To which my chagrined father responds, “No, little guy.  I guess I didn’t.”

Because, my Dad plays to win.  As do I.  We aren’t proponents of letting kids win to build their self-esteem.  It’s false esteem at that point.  Let’s be clear, we also aren’t yelling “In your face!” if we win.  We make all kinds of suggestions and help guide them to improve their game play.  The result?  A five year old who beat his seventy five year old Grandpa at chess on Monday morning.

But, I digress.  My point is that this is an intellectual little guy who plays a mean game of chess, which is a pretty intellectual game.  He’s a smart kid.

Now, look again.

dichotomy 003

Right next to that chess board is his football.  He’s set down his one love to play his other.  As soon as the game was over, the football was right back in his hand and he was running around the house, tossing it and chasing it, yelling “Touchdown!” and “Mom!  Watch this play!” as he threw himself after the ball, rolling as he caught it and holding it up in the air.  Let’s face it; he’s a jock.

So, who is he? 

The smart kid?

The jock?

He’s both.  He’s neither.   He’s Monkey in the Middle, and there are many sides to him, as there are to everyone.  Maybe dichotomy is the wrong word here, because we all have way more than two sides to us.  Isn’t it great?

So, again, call it what you will: not judging a book by its cover, don’t label people, you don’t know someone until you’ve walked a day in their shoes, etc.  Just watch yourself and be sure not to fall into those traps.

Because if you do, you could be missing out on some very interesting people.

October 17, 2009

Mr. Football

Filed under: Uncategorized — Amy @ 9:42 am
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I’m not sure when this happened, but Monkey in the Middle has become Mr. Football.  If he’s home, he has a football in his hand 24-7.  He never puts it down.  He even sets it on the floor next to his chair during dinner.

He wants to toss the football with anyone who is available, and if no one is available, he throws it and chases it himself.

He’s pretty good, actually.  I take no credit for that.  As the monkeys grow, any athletic ability they may display in no way, shape or form comes from me.  Athletic, I am not.

Again, I’m not so great with the action setting on Real Man’s camera, (been researching my own camera), but here are some shots of Monkey in the Middle tossing the pigskin (I may not be athletic, but I’ve got the lingo down) with Real Man this morning.

Football 005

This one I love.  He almost caught it, but it sorta got away.

Football 004

He’s got his eye on the ball!

Football 009

And he caught it!

Football 008

I guess this is really exciting stuff if you’re a guy or a Monkey Boy.  Tossing a ball back and forth gets real boring real fast for me.

While all this male bonding was going on this morning, Monkey in the Middle was sitting on the couch and drawing bugs.

Football 014

Now, that’s more my speed.

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