tiger wrestling

I've never been one who's totally sold on gender stereo types... and yet being the mommy of a little man is undeniably highlighting how different my sweet boy is from me. 

When I was a little girl I loved to exercise my imagination and play "make believe." 

I played "house" (I was the mom). I played "school" (I was the teacher). I played "hospital" (I was the surgeon). I even played "business" (I was the boss). (Haha, see any themes here?!)

I rememember playing with my dolls and stuffed animals often. Inevitably they were my "children" or my "students" or my "patients" or my "employees". 

But I don't ever remember wrestling them.

And this is one of the things that differentiates me from my four-month-old son.

I introduced Levi to his stuffed tiger-friend this week thinking he was now big enough that he may like to check it out. I wasn't sure how it would go since his whole world revolves around putting things in his mouth at the moment... and tiger-friend is a little large to fit in there.

But, alas, Levi instantly loved tiger-friend. At least it appeared to be love... in a little boy sort of way.

Immediately he grasped onto tiger-friend and began rolling around on the floor biting him, hugging him, screaming at him, squeezing him, and of course laughing at himself... All the while continuously looking over at mommy to make sure I was still watching.

I could just imagine him in a couple years time yelling, "Mommy, look at me!" from across the playground. He was already saying it so clearly with his eyes.

I assured him that I was watching and told him the things he needed to hear: he was tough, he was strong, and he was very, very clever. 

He giggled and turned away and chomped down once more on tiger-friend's face, so obviously delighted to have an audience, and so very proud of his tiger-wrestling feats.

Ah, little boys. How very special they are.

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