So, my son loves hockey. Actually, he doesn't just love hockey, he is obsessed with hockey. Which, in general is not really a problem, as while i'm not obsessed with hockey, I do enjoy watching a game or two. The problem is that while my husband and I are Canucks fans, somewhere down the line Joshua decided he did not like the Canucks and has become an avid Boston Bruins fan..go figure! So needless to say watching a hockey game is a little different now. When Boston played Vancouver, it was hard to cheer as hard, because i saw his posture deflate a little more with each goal Vancouver got.
Going out with Joshua when he is wearing his Boston Jersey has also become a little challenging as someone will inevitably make a comment about his Boston Jersey. I will admit that while i started out supporting him in his choice, just recently i found myself wishing he would go back to being a Canucks fan like everybody else.
Wow did that ever reveal something to me. I saw how much i like to conform and how tough i find it to do things that others don't do. And i've realized how much i admire the pluck of my little guy to continue to support the Boston Bruins and wear the Jersey even though quite a few kids have made negative comments about it. And I wish i could be more like that. To stand for my convictions and beliefs, even if I am the only one. To not have that inner need to have people agree with what i believe. To not bend to make people happy. To not need to be liked by everyone. The strength that takes to be different and to be okay with differences. It's so much easier when everyone is on the same page and so much more challenging to co-exist and get along when everyone isn't. My son is teaching me that it is okay to be different. Hard, but okay. Not everyone can cheer for the Canucks and that's okay!! :)
