Am I the Only One Whose Kids Think They Could Be Olympic Athletes?

Am I the Only One With Kids Who Think They Could Be Olympic Athletes?So, the Olympics started Friday night, and on a related note, nothing has gotten done at our house since Friday night.

Yup. We are crazy addicted to the Olympics. I've always been a fan of sitting on my butt, eating a bowl of chips and watching the best athletes in the world duke it out. This year has been really fun, because I have Gomer, 7, and Adolpha, 5, to share my chips and dream of Olympic gold with.

I remember watching the Olympics as a child and it hasn't changed much, except my kids have been exposed to many more sports than me they think they can win a gold in just about every event!

Gomer: Badminton looks pretty easy. I could do that. I would smoke 'em!

Hubs: Gomer, did you know the shuttlecock is flying at close to 200 miles per hour? I don't think you could do that.

Gomer: Ohh table tennis! I could win that event, no problem! Wait. Where's the ball? Are they hitting anything? It's kind of fast.

Adolpha: I love gymnastics. I'm really good at the balance beam.

Related: 16 ways to celebrate the Olympics with your kids

Gomer: Oh yeah! There's a girl at the gym who can totally do those bar things. She can go from the low one to the high one.

Adolpha: Oh yeah, I've seen her! She's good. Is she at the Olympics?

Me: I doubt it, guys. She's a gymnastics teacher at a rec center. These girls are a lot better.

Gomer: Hmm….maybe a little bit better. I can do the rings.

Hubs: What can you do on the rings?

Gomer: Swing on them mostly, but I can do a flip. Don't the men do a flip on the ring?

Hubs: They do more than a flip, Gomer. You have to be super strong to do the rings.

Gomer: But you're strong enough, right, Dad?

Related: Why quitting can actually be good for your kids ... and you

Hubs: Definitely not.

Gomer: Really? I thought you'd be stronger than those guys since you're so much older.

Me: It doesn't work that way, Gomer.

Gomer: You could do archery, Dad. I don't think you have to be very strong for that.

Hubs: Those compound bows are very difficult to use. You need to be strong to for all these sports.

Adolpha: Even running? You don't have to pick up anything heavy for running.

Me: Runners are very strong and fast.

Gomer: Hey, we haven't seen any track and field! When is that? I rock the discus on Xbox!

Adolpha: Swimming is on, Gomer. You're a good swimmer. You can do the backstroke.

Related: 10 bizarre souvenirs from the 2012 Olympic games

Gomer: Yeah I can! Hmmm … they look kind of fast. Is fencing on one of the channels? I can totally fence!

Hubs: Yes, you know how to fence, but you have to practice a lot more than you do now to get to the Olympics.

Adolpha: Or you could just play soccer at the Olympics, Gomer.

Gomer: Yeah, I'll do soccer.

Adolpha: Me too … or gymnastics.

Adolpha: Oh wait! Oooh, I like the skirts those girls wear. What sport is that?

Me: Field hockey.

Adolpha: Ewww … hockey is for boys, but I like those skirts…

I remember being a child and thinking I could be Nadia. Ahh, I miss that overwhelming confidence I had as a child. It's nice to see it again in my kids.

-By Jen Mann-Li
Follow Jen on Babble

For 10 life lessons your kids can learn from Olympians, visit Babble!

MORE ON BABBLE

11 bizarre, discontinued Olympic sports
The 10 biggest scandals in Olympic history
25 things every kid should experience
10 baby names for a future Olympian
20 thing you need to know to be a good sports parent


Stay connected. Follow Babble on Facebook and Twitter.