I had two new discoveries about two of my children yesterday.
I'll start with Nathan. We're driving home from music lessons and he says nonchalantly that he's going to play indoor soccer. I admit, I was stunned. He gave up field soccer three years ago and has never once mentioned wanting to play again. Brad plays indoor soccer every Tuesday, and while Nate sometimes goes to watch a game, he has never expressed any interest in playing. "OK," I find myself calmly saying. (Trying to be a good mom and not jump up and down with excitement or say anything that might discourage him) "I'll check into it." When we get home, I look online for info about indoor soccer at the Zone. Turns out there's a highschool CO-ED league that plays in the winter, spring and summer. Hmmmm...very interesting...now I just have to discover if it's one particular girl, or just the idea of playing on a team with girls that's appealing.
And something about Kylie. I know she's a lot like my dad--she's a hard worker and she likes to always have something to do. Yesterday, I discovered one more thing they have in common.
She needed help with her Algebra homework, so I sat down at the table to see what I could remember. Turns out I knew more than I thought and I actually enjoyed figuring out the answers! After helping with a few problems, thinking she was now comfortable to do the rest on her own, I left the table and went to do the dishes. She started mumbling under her breath and I asked if she needed more help. She said she did, so I went back to the table. It seemed to me that she was getting it on her own and I tried to leave again. Same thing happens.
Then in dawned on me. She's just like my dad. She likes to have someone around her when she works! I remember as a kid my dad was always working on something around the house, adding or remodelling something. He loved to have us kids help him, and I remember times when I thought "This is dumb, all I'm doing is handing him nails, can't he pick them up on his own?" Now I know that he loves to have someone around, not always for the physical help, although sometimes he needs that, but just to have someone there. Kylie's the same way. I've tried in the past to have her do her homework in her room where she won't be disturbed, but she insists on sitting at the table in the middle of everything. Now I know why!
I love little "lightbulb" moments like these!
You go Nancy Drew! Let's see how long it takes you to figure out which girl he might like.
ReplyDeleteI love the similarities you mentioned about Kylie and your dad. Your dad is one of the neatest men I have ever known. Not a bad person to emulate!
On Nathan . . . Jared played on an indoor soccer team last winter at the Zone and loved it! BTW - we'll have to come watch Brad play sometime.
ReplyDeleteOn Kylie . . . Yes! That is exactly how Jared is also. Whereas Micah prefers to go hide away in a quiet room to do his work undisturbed, Jared has to be in the middle of everything. His reasoning is a little different, though. When he's working alone, I think he's afraid he'll "miss something," so he can't stay focused. :-)
Hmm, I guess you can never know what's going on in their little teenage minds. Nate's in High School now and I can't believe it! He looked so grown-up at his party tonight, where did the last 15 years go. This "Girl/Soccer" thing will be fun to hear about, keep us posted!
ReplyDeleteI love how Kylie and Dad are so much alike. He really appreciates all of the hard work she does with him. I think she actually works though, more that I ever did as a kid. When Dad and I built the barn all I think I ever did was pass nails too. Oh well! At least we were there to keep him company.
So I guess that's where Tyler gets his wanting someone around while he's working too! I'm always glad to help, but sometimes I'm like "uh, I'm not actually DOING anything!" but he still wants me to stay. Now I know who to blame for that :)
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