Wrestling with my Boys

Yesterday evening, during halftime of the Laker game we were watching, I started reading a little more of the book my wife wrote (which is excellent, by the way). In the chapter I was reading, a family with a young son were at the park and they were playing together. Running, chasing, tickling, and rough-housing. This part of the chapter almost brought tears to my eyes. I love my boys and I enjoy playing with them. So, it was a sentimental moment for me in her book. When I looked up after reading that section, Garrison was sitting quietly reading a book (he has read 3 books in the last three days...he's a voracious reader), Gage was daydreaming, and Gavin was sitting quietly next to me playing his Game-boy. I decided it was time for wrestling. I grabbed Gavin and started tickling him. Then I quietly whispered that we should "get Gage"...so, as stealthily as ninja's, we crept off the couch and body slammed him with tickles and laughter. Garrison promptly put down his book and jumped onto our dog pile. He knew what time it was. It was Daddy wrestling time! I enjoy that time with my boys. It was easier when they were smaller. Now when they jump full force onto me, I can hear my ribs crack and my muscles scream out in pain. But, I wouldn't give it up for anything. It's fun to tickle them and make them all laugh hysterically. It's fun to collapse in a pile, breathing heavily, after a long wrestling session. It's fun to let them pin me at the end. I especially like it when we can get through an entire wrestling session without anyone getting hurt and crying. Smashed fingers and bumped heads sometimes happen in wrestling sessions. I enjoy being a Daddy. Someday, the boys won't want to wrestle with me. They'll want the car keys or money for a date. Then I'll have to wait until they give me Grand-kids, so that I can wrestle with them. But, for now, I'm going to enjoy every minute of being a Daddy.