Hut, Hut, Hike!

It all began with a love for balls-any kind of ball. Golf, football, basketball, water polo, baseball,soccer- you name it, my son Titus, knew how to use it. Football quickly became his first love with it being football season, his dad coaching, players innocently egging him on at practice with a toss here and a catch there. He can even punt a football-drop kick it right onto those little size 7's of his & blast it away...as for place kicking- his dad taught him that one. However lately, his love for sports has grown to Super Bowl size proportions. I knew I was in trouble when he would snatch oranges from his seat in our cart at the grocery store and from the corner of my eye watch it fly over us into someone else's cart..."nothing but cart!"... we'll take those 2 points to the safer bread aisle, thank you very much! There's nothing like catching everyone in the produce section off guard. You know, just getting a little grocery shopping done and fine tuning my son's basketball skills-all in one trip. Apples, kiwi, onions-it doesn't matter, if it is close to being round and I get to close enough to the bin for his little hands to reach, my son thinks it should be thrown.

He has an affinity for Sports Illustrated, ESPN calms all tantrums, and he can pitch a Nerf baseball to himself to hit it. For the first time as of this morning, I think I am out of my league and approaching levels of sports passion I am not comfortable with. This weekend, as Brian & Titus were rummaging through our garage to find our Christmas decorations, they stumbled across Brian's old helmet from UCLA. Brian proceeded to bring it into our house as if it were something I could hang from the tree. Titus now likes to lug & drag this thing around. Everywhere we go that huge helmet is in tow, weighing almost as much as he does. He likes to put it on and when the weight of it makes him fall over, it doesn't hurt much b/c the helmet protects his sweet little noggin. Sad to say, the fun doesn't stop there.

This is where the problem arises, because it is not enough for Titus to carry it or wear it-
as of today, he won't stop until I wear it.

I can't shake the little guy. He's like Walter Payton chasing me down. He will follow me, grab at my leg, and beg "ma, ma, ma, maaaa....ball, ball!" He'll tap on the helmet & then tap on my head. I knew parenting a boy would be different, but I never anticipated moments spent like this.

Brian, when did you say you were coming home tonight?
I know it's only 9:00 in the morning, but I think it's your turn.

Football helmets...I don't roll that way, but I love little boys & their dads who do.

PS Merely putting the helmet on is not enough, I have found.
The chin strap has to be snapped on too! What on earth?!?!
I've gotta go, my little sports fanatic is tugging at my pajamas-helmet in hand.


~Post Edit~
A few pictures from my side of the helmet (aka the helmet cam)....