football?

We have entered a whole new world...and it's called 2nd grade. I would tell people this summer that saying I had a 2nd grader sounded like I had such a big kid. Little did I know how true that was. We have a child who has suddenly developed an inability to hear his parents voices. I suppose it must be something developmental...an ability to hear that adult voice frequency...maybe just preparation for those teen years that lie ahead of us?

We also have a child who has suddenly become interested in being a boy. I know that sounds strange to those who might now know Will well. However, he has long been the boy who was completely content playing with the girls. His best friends have largely been girls. So, imagine my surprise when the other day he said to me in the car on the way home that he wanted to learn how to throw a football. Football??? Apparently, three of the other boys in his class spend recess throwing a football. One of the children (who will here remain nameless) told Will that he couldn't play with them because he couldn't throw the ball well. So, what's a mom to do? Buy him a football, of course. And then ask his dad to teach him how to throw it. Turns out, he's not so bad. He's getting better. I don't have any delusions that he'll ever outpace the really atheletically gifted but not very kind child who told him that he couldn't play with them, but he's getting better. And he's my big kid.

And how could I not add this? Everybody deserves a little equal air time, right?