dexter’s calling in life…

Today we played hookey from soccer. I have lots of excuses. We’ve had a LARGE few weeks, and today, mother’s day, we all just wanted to laze around, have a picnic in the sun (the unexpected wind wasn’t all that thrilling), and be together without any stress or attempts to fit in to the world at large. Lucy first announced that she didn’t want to go to soccer — she’s the youngest on her team, the least skilled, and the only one who doesn’t know anyone else very well, which she handles nicely most of the time, but we’ve been away for a few weeks and I think she’s feeling a little gun-shy…not to mention still exhausted from a friday night sleepover we attended. So she didn’t go. Since she wasn’t going, we decided not to coerce dexter into going either…

Dexter decided a few weeks ago that he really isn’t into soccer, but that he will be when he’s older. He says “next year, perhaps.” The thing is, he LOVES to kick a ball around, score a few goals on his mom, and just PLAY soccer. The whole organized sports thing, though… not sure that’s really his thing. We’ve been watching the Avatar series lately, and he spent all of last soccer practice “ball bending” — which makes all the other keener kids stare at him and wonder what the hell he is doing exactly. He likes to run around, be around the other kids, kick the ball around, but when it comes to drills and the like, he’s completely lost, and moreover, totally uninterested. Since he’s also somewhat uncomfortable out there all alone after some kid told him to shut up on the first day, dad has to do all the drills and exercises with him, and he is also totally bored out of his tree. I’m just not sure we’re an organized soccer kind of family, which feels a little like we’re just one step closer to the outskirts. I’m used to being somewhat on the outskirts, and actually revel in it, but I would like my kids to have the opportunity to participate on the inskirts from time to time, if they so desire. I guess that’s the whole thing, though, he doesn’t desire, so why do I feel so much like he should go to soccer and FOCUS on the rules and such?

Well, kids should get plenty of exercise, right? Ok, check! this kid never really stops exercising, except when he’s totally conked out asleep. Kids should be able to FOCUS on things, right? Well, dexter is more than able to focus (hyper-focus, at times) when he’s interested in something, and when he’s not interested and there isn’t a real need for him to focus, he’s somewhat distracted — usually transporting himself to another, more interesting reality. When he’s uninterested but feels like it’s important (like when I ask him to help me clean his room, or feed the cat, or what have you) he is fully capable, so I’m not worried about that. Soccer just seems like one of those things that kids should love… and truth be told, he does love it, just not all the rules and drills and strategies…yet. Next year, perhaps.

So if not soccer, then what?

Anyone who knows my kid will see that the sport called “parkour” is pretty well right up his alley. It is literally “bouncing off the walls” and that’s dexter in a nutshell… please observe…

Am I right? good thing we live in Canada, where broken bones and major trauma can be repaired free of charge!!

Mark and I first saw “free running” in the James Bond Casino Royale movie, a like a so…

There are even classes to teach people parkour, but they don’t take kids under 12, probably to prevent injury to growing body parts. It’s ok, though, Dex is already living parkour on a daily basis, finessing his moves on the couch, on trees, tables, walls, wherever he can, really. I’m just glad I can officially stop telling him to stop bouncing off the walls — now I’ll just remind myself that he’s working on his parkour career… sounds much more legitimate!