Organized Wrestling

We have a house full of boys which means that there is always going to be wrestling.  In an effort to control it, we long ago implemented "Organized Wrestling" into our family.  And I don't mean WWF (which strangely enough I've been to in person back on a blind date in college, but that is another story for another time).  In order to keep stuff from getting smashed around the house or people getting hurt, we discourage the boys from wrestling each other. 

(The picture above is one of the boys wrestling at the end of our family photo shoot this month.)

 
When the boys were really little, we decided wrestling was going to be daddy's domain.  To be honest, I didn't think I could handle multiple kids literally jumping on top of me--motherhood itself is already enough of a contact sport for me with carting around babies & toddlers on my hip, kids tugging on my clothes (or sometimes lifting my skirt up in public) and using any part of my body as a tissue.  Jon's willingness to do this with the boys makes me love him even more if for no other reason than I get a good break from being stepped, pulled or slobbered on.  I prefer my contact to be snuggling up to read a book together than having a 40 pound boy jump on my back when I'm trying to stand up from picking things up on the floor.  :)

The exact details of the wrestling game have varied over the years.  Sometimes he pretends to be a sleeping Giant that they wake up or a wolf that is chasing them.  The details of the game are constantly changing, but the results look the same: the boys get to attack Jon and he tickles them, throws them in the air and indulges them in all sorts of rough play. 

 

(The boys checking out the sleeping giant)

(Anticipating their name being called out)

Usually this is done at the end of the night so the boys all get in their jammies and ready for bed.  Next they must sit on the couch (except for K who is still little enough that he's allowed to toddle around).  Then Jon lays on the floor.  He calls out one name at a time and then pretends to fall asleep.  They must wake him up and then he gets them.  They LOVE it.  Seriously love it!  And I love the giggles, pure glee and delighted screams that fill up our living room.  They each get several turns and then when Jon is just about sufficiently worn out, he allows them all to attack him at the same time.  That is their favorite part. 

Here are some shots I took of them during this week's wrestling-fest.