Pack Attack

As everyone knows, the Packers won the Super Bowl over the weekend. Here in Wisconsin, it's practically a religious holy week. It's all over the news, the schools, and the small town chat.

Which is all fine and good, but I have one child not happy at all about the Super Bowl.

Hoover. He's a conglomeration of feelings, physical activities, and questions. And since his dad is a Bears fan, he too says he's a Bears fan. Except, on Sunday when even Disgruntled Husband was cheering for the Packers, Hoover remained firm that his team was the Bears. And when we told him the Bears lost two weeks before, he changed his alliance to the Steelers.

My boy is nothing if not loyal.

Well, Larry Potter and DH watched the Super Bowl together until the end (side note: it's the first time they've ever cheered for the same team ever) and LP went upstairs to go to bed. Hoover and he share a room, and there was a lot of commotion. Then, Hoover appears on the stairs. Crying.

"I am very sad the Packers won"

On one hand, I wanted to laugh and tell him to toughen up, but on the other, this is the kid that would rather put a fist through a wall than express his feelings in words, so I went with it.

I gave him a hug and told him it was just a game. I sent him back to bed, but he wasn't happy about it.

All week, it's been like this. Anytime people bring up the Packers -which is like every other hour - Hoover gets upset. He even told me that the Friday before the Super Bowl, there was a pep rally the last half-hour of school (hi, tax dollars?) for the Packers, and he covered his ears the whole time.

This is the monster my middle son fears the most.

Not to mention, he brings it up the Super Bowl himself at least twice a day.

Yesterday, while killing time with the two little ones (LP's play practice is the next town over...for two hours...that will be a whole 'nother topic someday), we went to my old work where many of my friends still are. My friend Jeff asked Hoover if he watched the Super Bowl. And then the drama started.

Nichole, another friend and mom of 2 boys herself, was trying to engage Hoover in a discussion about it. Hoover had already let Jeff know his opinions on the Packers, and was telling Nichole the same thing. And Nichole pointed out that we all live in Wisconsin and that's why we all like the Packers.

And Hoover started to cry again. Big sobs and crocodile tears. I think Nichole was trying to figure out if she should laugh or cry, too.

I had to console my middle child and explain to everyone else that Hoover is very sensitive about the Super Bowl.

It's probably not the last time I'm going to explain Hoover's unusual behavior.

Dear Bears: Could you win the Super Bowl next year? Because I don't want to deal with this again.