It's seems these days, every kid has to have a focus. An area of concentration or special talent with which to impress family friends and gain easy access into college. Or preschool. Whatever.
It's kind of like picking a college major, except instead of deciding which course of study will give you the most freedom to get wasted on weeknights, you are deciding the course of your child's entire adolescent life.
Are you raising a gymnast, a pop star, an athlete, a beauty queen, a spelling bee champ? Parents must choose and choose quickly or else their kid won't stand a chance at exceling.
Lately, I've been weighing Mazzy's skills to determine which is the quickest and best route to SUPER CHILD STATUS. But since awards aren't usually handed out to those who sing the ABCs the loudest or those who do the best impression of Tattoo from Fantasy Island, I was forced to explore other options.
Below is PART I of a multiple part series called "Mazzy's Poentially Exploitable Talents".
What do I mean by exploitable?
Talents that can earn her scholorships, cash, and fame so that at some point in the future, she pays off our house and buys us a car. That's not too "pie in the sky", is it?
My first exploration will be of the athletic variety.
This weekend we visited our cousin's house in the 'burbs and Mazzy seemed very taken with the sport of BASKETBALL.
She calls it SOCCER, but that's besides the point.
What do you think? This is basically a free ride for the rest of her academic life, yes?
I’m thinking a) baseball – she’s got a good arm there, especially with the sippy cup; b) running – she can run! or c) cuteness – wait, is that a sport?
#1… I love the part where she shows her tummy. #1 rule of dealing with boys…when in doubt, show them your tummy!
#2, Mazzy’s most marketable skill is that she’s cute with a capital “C”! Get that kid on camera saying “Maffles are Melicious!”, send that tape to Eggo and you are BAJILLIONAIRES! She’ll be bigger than Mikey!
Girl has got mad defensive skills! As a side note, sign her up for track/cross country. She is FAST!
I had no idea that there was actually kids track but my niece could run a mile in less than 6 minutes by the time she was 12! Crazy right!? She runs for her middle school now but has done kids races since she was about 6 and is signed up for the half marathon next year here!
I adore that she threw the sippy cup at the end. Hilarious!!
Made me smile! She does have an arm on her! Go girl!
Definitely softball (or lacrosse if she likes to run!)
Flashing her tummy was especially adorable! I’m pretty sure she thought, “wait my belly looks like that basketball, doesn’t it!! Hold on, I gotta check this out real quick.” LOL Too cute!
Can’t see video until no longer at work π but it sounds soooo cute! I was very impressed with my toddler’s soccer skills and had high hopes of her prodegy soccer status. Until I realized that most soccer stars don’t need to hold their Mommy’s hand when they kick, run, stop balls etc. And though at first it was super-cute she wanted my support, the bloom soon came off the rose. On the other hand, I was kind of impressed at my own soccer skills … compared to toddlers that is. π
Definitely soccer for us…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6CIHfCOCF4
Rebecca does gymnastics, but she is already 90th percentile for height, so I keep saying to enjoy it while she can because her professional career was over before it began π
Hopefully she is older than 12 now π
(But seriously, that is amazing!)
Really cute!
she just turned thirteen! Last year was her personal best at nationals π
My favorite part too! She’s got passion.
I think this has inspired me to actually edit some of my own video footage of my son and set it to music : )
I love the globetrotters music. So adorable.
And I’m so happy to see the little Manhattanite getting some exposure to free-range grass. π
If cuteness was a sport, Mazzy would totally kick ass.
Mazzy is obsessed with her tummy. I’m lucky she kept her shirt on.
Anyone got Eggo’s number? I am on it!
That is crazy! Mazzy takes off running all the time. I used to be able to walk quickly next to her to keep up but no more. A little scary on NYC streets.
I was so happy when she did itβ I knew it would be the end of the video right then!
Dawn- You’d be surprised how easily you can make an awesome video if you put the right music behind it.
Yes! That is totally what she was doing. Are you friends with her or something?
Adorable! I think Mazzy’s ability is to charm the crap out of everyone until she gets anything she wants. Which is a recipe for success, if you ask me.
The two of us should form a mom team to compete against the other toddlers! First time I’ve stood a chance at winning a team sport in my life!
Are soccer stars short? I didn’t know that. Maybe she will buck the trend- I watched the video, that kid’s got talent!
Yes. Did you see her in the top picture? I think the burbs confused the hell out of her. Every time we went inside, she BEGGED to come back out. And when we left, she waved at the driveway and said sadly, “Bye, balls!” Kind of heartbreaking.
It most certainly is. Works on me every time.
So very cute.
I gave up on organized sports, and think I’m going to lead the Turbo Toddler into a very lucrative career in Demolishion or Bomb Detonation. You have to go with their strengths….
I guess your daughter is cute and everything, but what I liked was watching my son kick your husband’s ass!
Naw, it’s gymnasts that are short — I remember there was a gymnast from Russia in the late 90’s / early 2000’s that was 5’2″ and looked like a freakishly tall giant next to the other girls. I guess it’s center of gravity issues?
Soccer players probably have an advantage if they are tall (longer legs?) but it’s all about SPEED.
P.S. I think the gymnast I’m thinking of was Svetlana Khorkina (or something like that). I am troubled that I remember this, but I can’t find my keys half the time. (And no, I’m not pregnant either)
Come to the dark side.. we have cookies… and fresh air too π
Ok, I got home so I didn’t have to ignore work to watch it, instead I could ignore my own kids (including toddler same age) and watch it. That is OK right? Right. In fairness I also ignored them to email, facebook and drink some wine π Anyway, if the basketball thing doesn’t work out, perhaps the shirt-lifting skills could lead to something? π (I jest because I love and because it wasn’t even on the same level as my own little flasher, especially now that it is warm enough for skirts and she is newly in Big Girl Underwear π
If she joins a basketball team she’ll have millions of fans and admirers in no time. Especially with that belly.
Whoops. Meant to post that as a reply above.