Simon discovers hockey

In nominating me for the Bad Mother of the Year award, be sure to include the fact that every night after I put on his jammies and brush Simon’s teeth, I bring him downstairs to give him a bottle and watch 10 minutes of Entertainment Tonight with him while he cuddles in my arms and drinks it. I figure that’s at least three strikes – a nightly bottle and he’s almost two, a reinforcement that mommy’s love and TV are linked, and the fact that we probably could be watching something educational like the weather channel, but I like my nightly 10 minute microdose of celebrity trash.

Except, Entertainment Tonight (and the new -gag- ET Canada) are only on weeknights. Sundays we dial in to America’s Funniest Videos, where Simon chortles and observes, “Uh oh!” at the hapless twits falling off of chairs and being beaned by pinata sticks. That leaves Saturday evenings, where through the fall we enjoyed an inning or two of playoff baseball while I explained the finer points of bunting to advance the runner and the difference between a knuckleball and a slider.

Now that the World Series is decided for another year and hockey has returned, Hockey Night in Canada seemed a good place to while away a few minutes this past Saturday night. (I’ve taken it upon myself to educate the boys in their sporting life, god help them. Beloved, my artistic soul, certainly isn’t going to do it!) And well, well, well, it was the Ottawa Senators versus the Toronto Maple Leafs – our favourite rivalry.

As soon as I flipped the channel to the CBC, Simon was excited. “Hockey game! Hockey game!” he said enthusiastically. I have no idea how he knew, but he knew. We watched for a while, and I explained the power play that was favouring the Sens, and then the two man advantage. Just then, the Sens scored and I cheered – “SCORE! Hooray, they scored a goal!” to which Simon replied, “Uh oh.”

“No no, Simon,” I explained, “that’s good for our team. We scored a goal.”

Simon, watching the replay, said it again: “Uh oh.”

Uh oh indeed. I think he’s a Leaf’s fan.

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Author: DaniGirl

Canadian. storyteller, photographer, mom to 3. Professional dilettante.

13 thoughts on “Simon discovers hockey”

  1. OH DEAR…Family rivalrly! Just like at my house when I was young I was a solid Montreal Candians fans and my dad was everything else! We loved yelling at the t.v. together every Saturday night until I got interested in BOYS and was out.
    LOL!
    Better get Simon a Leafs Jersey fro Christmas.

  2. I am most proud of Simon learning hockey – a real sport – unlike baseball. (Quiet Robin!) Our guys are really taking to hockey, last week went to the local arena and watched an entire 60 minute game of 11 year olds playing. He better not be a Leafs fan though, and if he isn’t partial to the Sens, then I’ll send him a HABS jersey.

  3. We had to rely on the kindness of Canadian friends to properly supply LG with hockey shirts (no Roots in the US — the horror!). He likes hockey even better than baseball, I think.

  4. no, no, no, he was just mixed up, he can’t be a Leafs fan! You need to nib that in the bud
    that was a great game and we had so much fun watching it as a family, the kids really got into it, reminded me of my own youth when watcing Hockey Night in Canada was THE thing to do…Go Habs Go!!!

  5. It’s never too early to learn about hockey. Now you just need to teach him the proper hockey alphabet:
    B-R-U-I-N-S A-R-E T-H-E B-E-S-T.
    Cheers,
    Troy

  6. Congratulations Dani!! We bring J to A’s games almost every weekend (when they aren’t past his bedtime). It’s great! He stands like his brother and “Saves” the puck on a regular basis. Not only is J an amazing forward and defenceman, but now he is doing great as a goalie too! He does cheer on the Sens and recognizes the logo wherever we go!
    Anna & her sports fans.

  7. mmm hockey, Did i mention that Tristan needs to come over for the pre-dinner street hockey game at our place.
    I have enough sticks, both left and right for an extra couple of boys.
    I re-strung the hockey net this weekend so it is good to go.
    Oh yeah and something to look forward to. The game last Sunday, and the game this Sunday. Both start at 6:00… AM

  8. You see what a great mother you are?
    – You are giving your children the ability to make CHOICES — even crazy choices. (That’s empowerment!)
    – You’re respecting the fact that they may want to root for a team that, well, may not always win. (This means you are promoting the idea of helping the disadvantaged in society.)
    – You are exposing them to alternative lifestyles — like lifestyles of the rich and stupid. (Cultural enrichment.)
    – You are teaching them that we can do more than one thing at a time — like be with people we love and watch TV at the same time (multi-tasking).
    Seems like a lot of important life-lessons are happening Chez Danigirl.
    Ann

  9. Nancy, I knew you’d be pleased! Was thinking of you when I posted. Although I still prefer baseball myself…
    Phantom, no Roots? How do you stand it? (She said, admiring her Roots wallet, purse, favourite sweatshirt, 50% of boys wardrobe and yes, even cell phone.)
    Sorry Troy, the Bruins aren’t even in the running. I might tolerate a Leafs boy in my house, growing up in orbit of all things Toronto, or maybe even a Habs fan. But I’m going to have to be nationalistic on this one and say no American teams allowed!
    UG, we are definitely in for street hockey! I’ve picked the boys up from Bobbie’s a few times and had to bribe the hockey stick out of Simon’s hand. Tristan is indifferent, but Simon likes anything that involves chasing a ball! And you get no sympathy on the 6 am game time – since daylight savings disappeared, Simon hasn’t slept past 4:15. Maybe we’ll join you for one of those early games and cheer your boy on!
    And Ann, as usual you have the perfect perspective. I love it when somebody else does the justifying and rationalizing on my behalf!!
    xo Dani

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