For the love of the game

My kid discovered his first love this time last year. The discovery came with sweating, heavy breathing, and fitful sleep. Luckily, his love only disrupts our life in the fall (though I have to suffer through it year-round).

Yes, my son is forever hooked on football.

He loves to watch it on tv (including old games and the always-on folly shows), talk about it, toss the ball around with the Mountain Man, go to see high school and college games, and perfect his plays on whatever PSP games come his way.

But mostly he just loves to play: the crash-bang of boy against boy, the anticipation of pig skin whirring through the air toward outstretched arms, the spent and sweaty exhaustion of nightly practices.

And what makes playing even better? Helmets and pads and mouthguards, of course. He'd sleep in his if he could.

Nothing is as fierce as a kid who thinks he could tackle the world.

Well, except the bruises that come from trying.

What's your kid's one true love?

***This post is part of Wordful Wednesday.***