Today after soccer, I found myself in the middle of a grassy field with CJ, barefoot and playing a game that I like to call, “YEAH, BUT CAN YOU DO THIS?” Here’s how it works-
First, CJ does a somersault. “Can you do that mom?”
I get into position, but chicken out at the last minute due to an overwhelming certainty that attempting this move will cause my neck to snap. And that would be very, very bad.
“No,” I say, “but can you do THIS?” and move into Downward Facing Dog.
No problem… CJ is in Downward Facing Dog in a second, and looks like he’s been doing it since he was born. Which he basically has.
“Can you do this mom?” he’s leaping into the air, spinning around, and doing what could be called a somersault but is more of a partial forward handspring. Really, really impressive. I make a mental note to check into some gymnastics classes for him.
“Yeah, not so much,” I say, and throw a “Brave Warrior” pose at him. That one proves to be more than a match. Finally, a point for old, inflexible mom!
The whole exercise makes me realize… kids just do yoga naturally. Downward facing dog, three-legged dog… Tabletop pose… I can’t tell you how many yoga poses I see when CJ is just… doing his thing.
Interesting.
I guess this means that doing yoga will transform me back a decade in agility and mental spryness. Right?
And then I realize… the “YEAH, BUT CAN YOU DO THIS?” game is something I end up playing other people besides my 3-year old son. We play it with the in-laws, for example. “Oh, you bought a new truck did you. YEAH BUT CAN YOU DO THIS?” (metaphorical hand stand)
I used to watch it at work, and now get to hear all about it at Jay’s work. “Oh, you got promoted did you? YEAH, BUT CAN YOU DO THIS?”
I encounter it at the playground. “Oh really, your son can write his name? YEAH, BUT CAN YOU DO THIS?”
Why are we so juvenile and petty? Why don’t we grow up already?
And if you’re one of those people who’s thinking about leaving a comment like, “I don’t know what you’re talking about, I am not that way!”… I have just ONE THING to say to you:
Yeah, but can you do THIS?!
***
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xo Jen
May 26, 2007 at 3:47 am
I like to think that I’m a basically decent person, with more than the average dose of common sense, but wow. I do that all. the. time.
Why can’t we get it through our thick skulls that life isn’t a competition?
May 26, 2007 at 12:24 pm
LOL…Your pics crack me up!!!!
May 26, 2007 at 6:10 pm
Love. The. Picture.
May 26, 2007 at 10:14 pm
uh, yeah…duh?
More like, so you can take pictures? Well I have photoshop, CAN YOU DO THIS?
Thats what I thought.
You’re funny, tee hee.
May 27, 2007 at 2:34 am
I am constantly trying to one-up my kids just to show them how *cool* I am. I hope one day I’ll overhear them bragging to their friends, “Oh, yeah? But can your mom do THIS?”
I know. Pathetic.
May 27, 2007 at 11:58 pm
My three year old neice and I do that all the time. She’s the karate expert, but I’m the cheerleading expert. We have a ball trying to out do each other.
May 28, 2007 at 2:58 am
I pretty much never play that game because everyone one-ups me at everything it seems.
I don’t even get any points for the six kids thing. I always end up meeting a woman who has 7 or 8 and is organized, likes to cook, has a great wardrobe, you get the picture.
Thanks for always making me smile. CJ is a lucky kid!
May 28, 2007 at 12:48 pm
yeah, but we never grow up since life is just a game we all play. Everyone does it to some extent. Even if you claim you don’t do it, isn’t that another way of saying, “yeah, but can you do THIS”, this being not doing it. hehe!
May 28, 2007 at 4:56 pm
You’re so right. hahaha. And I love the picture! This competition stuff is so stupid, but everyone seems to fall prey to it at some point. Polliwog’s right–someone ALWAYS seems to outdo me, so why play the game? Why not just live and be happy with it? Much easier said than done, alas.
May 29, 2007 at 6:30 am
ha ha ha ha ha
I can’t decide if I think the story is funnier or the photo!
ha ha ha ha ha