momMY slice of life: Number 12

Its Basket Ball season and my little ~~Dirk Nowitski~~ Dylan is tearing up the court. Well, he's having the best time ever, anyways.

Our big man is #12 this year.

This is his second year playing basket ball.

I get so, so tickled watching him play, because

I can just tell that in his little mind

the whole game is like one giant play.

Let me explain. Dylan is ALWAYS pretending something or another. When he isn't acting out a scene from Starwars or "Water Boy (a "movie" that he made up on his own... more on that later), he is drawing out a scene or writing a story down. This boy is amazingly creative. I love that about him and I want to nurture it and help it to grow. But I also want him to be well rounded. So anytime he shows interest in a sport.. I jump on it! And he loves playing ball with his friends.

But when he is out on the court...

I believe the court is a stage to him, the parents in the stands are his audience, and he is in a movie or play, pretending to be basketball star. His facial expressions are what gives it away for me. I pointed this out to one of my friends, who knows Dylan well, and she agreed that its seemed to be the case. She said "Oh! I guarantee he is playing some theme music in his head right now!" I bet she is right. And after that game, Dylan came to me and said "Did you see the serious look I was giving that boy I was defending!?" Its so funny and it makes my heart so happy. I love exactly who he is. If he wants to be athletic, we'll encourage it. If he wants to be artistic, we'll be just as happy and encourage that too. I just pray he is blessed with great talent in whatever makes him happiest and that he uses it in amazing ways one day. And that its to the glory of the Lord.

I hope I don't make it sound as though he doesn't enjoy sports, because that's not the case. I just mean that creativity comes to him much more naturally. At this age, the only important thing in sports is that he is doing his best and having fun. And he is doing both things beautifully this year. Daniel gave him some tips yesterday right before the game, and Brother must have been listening, because Ya'll...

MY BOY GOT A BASKET!!

The first basket he's gotten this season. AND the first basket of the game. And it was an amazing play. I went crazy-out-of-my-mind-psycho with excitement. I literally jumped out of the stands, started jumping up and down and screaming something crazy like "Oh my God! Dylan! You did! AHHHHHH". Most other moms sit nicely and clap when their kids score. I just laugh when I think about how crazy I must have looked. I knew most everyone sitting around me though, so I'm sure they just smiled and thought "there's Carla."

Dylan usually pumps his arms up in the air in celebration when anyone, on either team, scores. I would have expected him to do a small victory dance or something for himself, but he just smiled really big and kept on playing the game. The kid is much more cool, calm, and collect than his mom.