Do I buy the red cleats?
So it's soccer season. My oldest son Zach has outgrown his cleats and needs a new pair.
We shop around. He hates shopping. hates. shopping.
So we are shopping for cleats.
His uniform will be black shorts, black socks and a dark blue jersey.
He's busy being 9.
Telling me how he doesn't want to be there.
I'm wondering how a kid who can't walking into any store on the planet without asking to purchase something. "Dad can we buy this...." is a phrase burned into my mind like an old TV left on the same channel for a year straight.
Finally he wants to try on a pair.
The shining red pair.
Red.
They almost shimmer. almost.
A switch has flipped.
He really wants them.
This is just like him. He likes to express himself like this occassionally.
Normally, I hold him back.
But today I'm torn.
He genuinely wants the red pair of cleats.
My mind is racing. I'm thinking about what the other kids will say when they notice. Because they will notice, right? I know they will.
OH 9 years olds might not notice right away, but between running lap, learning a new play,
and catching a cricket a kid is going to be temporarily blinded by the sun reflecting off the red cleats and he'll say something.
It's playing out in my head in a split second.
Do I deny him the red cleats for this reason alone?
Do I point him toward a nice black pair?
Take a hit in the moment knowing that I'm rescuing him from the pain of being made fun of?
or
Do I let him get the red cleats? Do I let him express himself with a pair of red cleats, that actually look pretty cool, with the exception that they are soooo red.
Which would you do?
Update:
So here's what I did. I bought him the cleats... on the spot.
thanks for all the comments...
anyone disagree with my decision?
We shop around. He hates shopping. hates. shopping.
So we are shopping for cleats.
His uniform will be black shorts, black socks and a dark blue jersey.
He's busy being 9.
Telling me how he doesn't want to be there.
I'm wondering how a kid who can't walking into any store on the planet without asking to purchase something. "Dad can we buy this...." is a phrase burned into my mind like an old TV left on the same channel for a year straight.
Finally he wants to try on a pair.
The shining red pair.
Red.
They almost shimmer. almost.
A switch has flipped.
He really wants them.
This is just like him. He likes to express himself like this occassionally.
Normally, I hold him back.
But today I'm torn.
He genuinely wants the red pair of cleats.
My mind is racing. I'm thinking about what the other kids will say when they notice. Because they will notice, right? I know they will.
OH 9 years olds might not notice right away, but between running lap, learning a new play,
and catching a cricket a kid is going to be temporarily blinded by the sun reflecting off the red cleats and he'll say something.
It's playing out in my head in a split second.
Do I deny him the red cleats for this reason alone?
Do I point him toward a nice black pair?
Take a hit in the moment knowing that I'm rescuing him from the pain of being made fun of?
or
Do I let him get the red cleats? Do I let him express himself with a pair of red cleats, that actually look pretty cool, with the exception that they are soooo red.
Which would you do?
Update:
So here's what I did. I bought him the cleats... on the spot.
thanks for all the comments...
anyone disagree with my decision?
Labels: Random Thoughts
posted by mark at
9:45 PM
6 Comments:
buy the red cleats damnit. Who are YOU to say that Red isn't cool amongst 8 year olds. Your a balding OLD man. Let the kid have some creative independence dad.
albeit a very cool balding old man.... but you got to let him find his own style, even if it is a little..... uh, bright.
respect. Nick. Inc.
Buy em the cleats!
Theres no place like home. Theres no place like home.
Buy the cotton-pickin' cleats, practice hard, and if anything is said, let his play on the field do the talking.
Let your son know you are buying 1 pair of cleats and the color is up to him. Whichever he chooses is what he wears for the season.
Besides, it's soccer (outdoor?) they won't be bright red for long.
Perhaps this is a time that he can learn the effects of his own decisions versus listening to Dad. Although, instead of being ostracized he could also wind up being seen as the coolest kid on the team because of those cleats.
Remember, this is soccer you're talking about. Matching attire is not required. Just look at Brazil's national team.
of course you bought the cleats!
the crimson color will empower him to excel at sports
of course, if they were any shade of orange, he would immediately transform into the water boy!
David
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