Alabama is my husband’s team. He grew up during the glory days of Bear Bryant, and he still remembers seeing the mighty coach standing on the sidelines or watching him eat Golden Flake potato chips on TV. If you think Alabama fans have put the Bear years behind them, you haven’t met my husband.

My son is an LSU fan. We’re not sure how it happened. Truman pledged his allegiance to the purple-and-gold a few weeks before the 2007 football season. That was the year they took home the national championship. This was when my son was his most clairvoyant. He almost always picked the winning baseball team or Nascar driver. When he predicted Obama would be president long before the Democratic primary, well, it was just freaky.

Here’s how much my husband loves our son – he bought Truman an LSU jersey. Truman wears it from time to time, especially when he and Daddy play football in the yard. Rick is willing to be most any team Truman makes him be, except Tennessee and Auburn. Last week Rick was Iowa. (Truman pronounces it eye-OH-uh.)

Sure, we bought Truman Alabama caps and jerseys even before he was born. We assumed we would raise an Alabama fan simply through osmosis. But for some reason, our son preferred choosing his own favorites. As much as it pains Rick, he is willing to let Truman be his own man when it comes to choosing sports teams. Rick is an avid New York Yankees fan; Truman prefers the Red Sox. Rick loves the Lakers; Truman likes the Celtics.

When we told Truman last week that we were going to see Alabama play LSU, Rick told our darling son that he could wear any jersey he wanted, including his LSU jersey. Truman said, “That’s OK, Daddy. I’m going to wear my Alabama jersey just for you.” My husband gushed with pride.

Those words alone from my psychic son led me to believe that Alabama would continue its winning streak. But at times it was hard to keep the faith. Thankfully, Alabama pulled off the win. Roll Tide!

We drove home that evening with our son strapped in the backseat. He was wearing his Alabama jersey and ROLL TIDE eye blacks, holding a crimson-and-white shaker and a paper hounds tooth hat fan, and shouting “Roll Tide” to passing cars. My husband turned to me, a proud papa, and said, “I think we’ve finally made him a Bama fan.”

Truman suddenly paused from his Bama chants. “You know, Daddy,” he chimed in. “I like Alabama, but I still like LSU more.”

Photo, JWJourney

Post from: Blisstree

Can You Influence Your Son’s Choice in Team

I learn a lot from my friends who are parents. One friend in particular has 2 children — a lovely little girl and a beautiful boy. The son is about 5 or 6 and loves to attend professional sports events — the NY Yankees seem to be his favorite. (Here in the U.S., that would be baseball).

My friend is fortunate enough to get tickets to frequent games (lucky little boy). And what I find fascinating is — they go to each game, rain or shine.

Not only that — they stay until the very end of the game — until each player, coach and referee is off the field. It could be raining, swealtering or snowing…they do not leave.

My friend seems to be like that with everything he does: work, chores, games, homework, philosopy…everything. (which is why I love him.)

To me, it signifies that not only is my friend enjoying himself, he is teaching his children about loyalty, commitment and dependability.

I truly hope his children grow up to be just like my friend; and I hope they will understand the lessons their father was trying to instill in them at such a young age.

I hope when I grow up, I’m also just like my friend; and hopefully, the next time I attend a NY Giants Football (American Football) game, if it starts to snow, I will stay — and I hope my friend is sitting next to me.

Image: Flickr.com/New York Yankees

Post from: Blisstree

Lessons In Commitment.