Channeling his inner sports fan

I think anyone who knows our family the slightest bit knows that Charlie and Joseph are HUGE sports fans. That's good for us, because Cort is a big sports fan, and I like going to games as well.

We've been taking Charlie and Joe to sporting events since they were 3, and regularly since they were 4. And they'll watch the game. The WHOLE game. They sometimes refuse to go to the bathroom, and while they are fans of the concession stand, they want us to go get it for them so they don't miss anything. They have no idea that there is a kids' play area in Minute Maid Park. They have been known to cry if we leave before a game is over.

We clearly got spoiled by this behavior. Turns out, most 3 and 4 year olds aren't really that easy to take to sporting events. Who knew?

We've now taken all four kids to a couple of baseball games and a football game. It hasn't been terrible, but it also hasn't been much about watching the game, either. For Will and Helen or, therefore, for us.

We've been hoping that they'd grow into loving sports. Especially since we've got a family baseball stadium tour planned to commence next year.

Then last week, I figured it out. Like his older brothers, Will loves numbers. I actually even remember explaining to Joe at a Texans game when he was 3 that "Football is all about numbers." Once I explained the concept of 10 yards in 4 downs, he was hooked. Even today, Joe is all about the score and the scoreboard.

So, at the Rockets game last weekend, when Will was getting antsy, I pointed out the scoreboard. I told him that if the ball went into the net, the numbers would change. He was entranced. I explained how the numbers under the "R" word showed the score for the Rockets, which was our team, and the numbers under the "H" word showed the score for the Hawks, which was the other team. He watched intently, getting excited with every basket, and going crazy when the Rockets (and the Hawks) reached 100. I also showed him the game clock and told him that when it got to 0:00, the game would be over and the team with the most points would win. Well, the Rockets won, and he was so excited that he is still talking about it.

We've since been to a hockey game and several of Charlie and Joe's baseball games. He likes to watch the scoreboard every time. He now knows that if there is a runner on 3rd and the batter hits the ball, the runner on third will run to home plate and that if the runner is safe a run will score. If there is a runner on second or first, he talks about how the runner has to go to each base and then home to score a run and change the number on the scoreboard.

It's all about figuring out what makes your kid tick. We are cautiously optimistic that we've got another sports fan in the making.