Burgers, Babbling, and Bonding: One Exhausted Player's Evening
Man, practice today was brutal. Coach really had us pushing hard, sprinting till our calves screamed, and then some. The grass was slick, a little damp from that morning drizzle, and the air had that cool bite that hits just right after a good run. Sprints, drills, tackles—every part of my body was buzzing with exhaustion. I could feel the mud caked on my cleats as I walked off the field, my jersey clinging to me with that gross mix of sweat and damp air. By the end of it, the fatigue wasn’t just in my legs—it had worked its way into every part of me. Yeah, I was tired, beat, beyond ready to crash, but there was one thing hyping me up as I threw my gear in the back of my truck — picking up little Mitchell.
I swear, the minute I stepped into the door and saw his face light up, all of that exhaustion melted away like it never existed. It’s crazy how fast his energy can flip my mood. He’s just barely two, but that kid’s already got the zoomies like he’s training for a football game himself. The way he toddled those stubby little legs toward me, arms wide, wearing that goofy, open-mouth grin—man, it got me, like it always does. He crashed into me with every ounce of his little body and started babbling nonsense like he was spilling secrets from the greatest toddler adventure. It doesn’t matter the kind of day I’ve had, seeing Mitchell’s face light up like that just… I don’t know, it centers me. Even if it’s just for a second, it’s like everything’s okay in the world—like nothing else really matters.
I scooped him up with one arm, and this squirmy little dude just hung on tight, wriggling and chattering away as if he had a million things to share. There’s something about that shift—from the rough chaos of practice, my body bruised and covered in grime, to this sweet, simple moment of holding a kid so full of love and energy—it’s grounding. It makes the grind of the day feel worth it. After a few “Da-da-da-da!” yells and a laugh that could rival any victory celebration, it was time to hold up my end of the deal.
We grabbed his bottle, sitting on the couch as he tilted it back like a champ, clinging tight to his promise of dinner. He polished it off in record time, looking up at me with those baby-blue eyes like he knew what was coming next. “Buhgers?” he asked—or tried to, anyway. Close enough. The champ won his prize.
The ride to the burger joint was exactly what I needed to shake off the day. Windows down, that crisp evening air streaming through, Mitchell was humming to himself in the backseat, kicking his little sneakers against the car seat and vibing to his own tiny tune. Every now and then, he’d giggle for no reason, and I’d find myself laughing right along, no clue why, not really caring. Life can be so ridiculously fast-paced—it’s like a blur of drills, work, and schedules, but this? Moments like this slow it all down.
When we got there, it was game time. Is there anything better than a basket of greasy burgers and perfectly salted fries after a brutal practice? Yeah, there is—sharing that with Mitchell. Watching him nosedive into a fry, smearing ketchup over his face more than his food, is like its own kind of entertainment. And his laughter? It’s like he figured out the secret to happiness and is trying to share it, one silly giggle at a time. Burgers and fries—it’s just our thing now, our post-practice tradition.
I sat there watching him, thinking about how wild life is. Not long ago, my biggest concern was the next game or the next play. And now? Now it’s about making sure this little guy knows he’s loved, that he’s got someone rooting for him every step of the way. Life’s a lot sometimes, but these moments? Man, they’re undefeated.**
Journal Prompt:
What kind of day at preschool would Mitchell need to have for you to decide he deserves a special treat like burgers and fries after pick-up? Would it be a day where he showed kindness to a friend, learned something new and exciting, or maybe simply had a tough day and could use a little pick-me-up? Describe how you imagine that day unfolding and what it would mean to both of you.