To Christine - Love, Joseph

So Christine had a scrimmage on Monday, and while I was sitting there watching the girls play basketball, Joseph sidled up next to me and said, "Man, they're ferocious!" Just then, a little brawl spread out before us on the basketball court as 4 girls clamored to claim the ball. It looked a little like the tackle basketball that my sisters and I used to play in our driveway. I commented back to Joseph, "Yeah, it doesn't seem very lady like does it?" He shook his head in agreement, watched for a few more minutes, and then turned to do his homework, never again turning to watch the game. Please don't assume that I think that female athletes aren't lady like; that is not at all what I meant by the comment. I just knew my son well enough to know what he meant by his comment and was able to decipher the look on his face. He watched the two teams play, competing for the ball, waving their hands in each other's faces, bumping into one another, grabbing the ball, occasionally scratching with their fingernails (albeit on accident), etc., and it just didn't fit with the way he sees the world. He wants so much for the world to be fair, for people to be kind and respectful, and I think it was hard for him to see his sister (whom he loves very dearly) out there in such a physically hostile environment. Sure, he can be rough on his sisters, and they can be quite ferocious themselves here at home. Somehow that's okay. It's home after all. But after his comment, he refused to watch her play anymore. That was his sister, after all, and he just couldn't stand to see her possibly get hurt. So Christine, although he invades your personal space ALL the time, and says mean things to you when he's mad, and hurts you sometimes because he's feeling hurt, and won't quit taking things that belong to you, and gives you his puppy dog eyes to guilt you into giving him your goodies, and . . . you get the idea, your little brother loves you very much. I hope that he will always see you the way he did on the basketball court, as his prized sister, and a lady. I hope that he is always your protector - especially when the boys come calling, and you need someone to remind you how honored and respected you should be treated. So, in the coming months, if you look at the sidelines, and notice Joseph's back instead of his face, don't be offended. It is a compliment from your little brother, one spoken through body language rather than words. "That's my sister you're playing with. Be kind, and don't hurt her!"(Picture from May 2003 Archive)