Tether Ball Skills

Last night for Family Home Evening we read a story from The Friend (something we do for almost all our FHEs) and took a walk as a family. We watered our garden, got our mail, and ended the evening at the park. Our park is special, not just because it's across from our front door, but because it has a tether ball pole.

Peter and I have stopped at the tether ball before, but this was the first time that Bryan had been with us. Cooper and I sat on the sidelines as Bryan attempted to instruct Peter in the finer points of the tether ball. And by finer points, I mean to hit the ball and not swing on the rope. Bryan would hit the ball towards Peter and say, "Peter, hit the ball! Hit the ball!" And Peter would jump up and down and flap his arms while squealing with excitement.

I sat there watching, thinking, "Oh dear, I think he inherited my athletic ability. But wait, maybe I just don't try enough. We had a tether ball pole growing up. I can do this." So I hopped up, kissed Cooper in his stroller, and joined in the game.

Peter and I were on one team, Bryan on the other. Bryan grabbed the ball and gave it a smack. I told myself I was going to hit the ball. I reached my hand up and then pulled it back down. That ball was going really fast and I was imagining how hard it was going to hit my hand. I started laughing out of embarrassment. Then, still laughing, I kept jumping up, trying to hit the ball. After a few minutes of this I looked over at Peter and realized something. I was jumping up and down, squealing, and waving my arms as I tried to hit the ball. Just like Peter.

He really did inherit my athletic abilities.

Poor kid...