I understand that my mother-in-law is now reading this blog on a semi-regular basis (Hi, Mom!). I love my in-laws dearly, and I’m super excited to be spending Christmas with them. That being said, there is a problem.
My in-laws have a thing for New York sports. Which is fine. I understand taking pride in your hometown. They have a special passion for the New York Yankees (who seem to be assembling yet another all-star team with no pitching). I’m even a good sport and continue to attend our annual Campbell/Murnane trip to an Orioles/Yankees game at Camden yards, even though we’re up to something like 12 straight losses for the home team when I’m there with Kate’s family. I kid you not!
The problem with this year’s trip to New York lies with Simon. Simon has more Yankees paraphenalia in his little room than he knows what to do with. I understand this desire to try and sway Simon to the Dark Side, and I certainly don’t begrudge them their grandparently doting, from which we have benefited greatly. And, for the most part, I try to be pretty good-humored about it. He’s got his Orioles and Nationals outfits as well, and he’ll know who I root for when he gets old enough, but I try not to get super hung-up on baseball.
But football is a different matter. Football is SACRED. My father-in-law is a Giants fan. A BIG giants fan. I, on the other hand, am a Redskins fan. A BIG Redskins fan. And I will certainly raise any child of mine to be a Redskins fan. It is, believe it or not, important to me. Last year, Kate had the good fortune to get Skins/Giants tickets from a coworker, and he and I went and saw the Redskins take the Giants out behind the woodshed for a 31-7 shellacking. In their first meeting this season, the Giants returned the favor with a 36-0 rout in NY. They meet for the second time this year in DC at 1PM on Christmas Eve. The game has playoff implications for both teams.
Simon looks dashing in both his Redskins and his Giants outfits. So I’ve been instructed that if I bring the Redskins outfit with me, I’d BETTER DARN WELL bring the Giants outfit too. Okay, maybe those exact words weren’t used, but that’s the sentiment. Of course, the middle-ground would be to place him in a Christmas outfit that day and avoid the whole issue. The problem is, he’s growing so fast we think he’s already outgrown his Christmas outfits! Slow it down there, buddy!
So I’d like to know what you, the Internet, think about this little dilemma. Do I, as a parent, have the right to indoctrinate and brainwash my child into whatever sports fandom I choose? Should I be making a stop by Babies R’ Us tonight in a desperate attempt to find a Christmas sleeper in which Simon can spend Christmas Eve? Is this the silliest and most pointless dilemma you’ve ever heard of, and you think I should just GET A GRIP? Any thoughts are welcome, although if you write anything favorable regarding the Giants be prepared for me to dismiss you out of hand, no matter how convincing your argument may be.