Fancy Like

The first time I met Little Big Man we played flag football in the backyard. It was the first time our kids officially met and they hit it off immediately. Flag football then led to a foot race, and I’ve never seen a kid run so fast! I still smile thinking about that night because he had the race in the bag, but his older sister wasn’t gonna take the L so things didn’t end so well. It’s not the only time I’ve seen him lose. Losses have come in different forms for him during the past few years. One of the things I love most about Little Big Man is his resiliency. I remember when we started this nickname…I think there was some conflict at school and he said “I might be small, but I’m big on the inside.” The nickname Little Big Man stuck. He also goes by Billy Bullhorn and Squirrel Bait, but Little Big Man is my favorite.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned about Little Big Man is trust is earned. He watches you. He’s waiting to see if you do what you say. If you’re practicing what you preach. If you’re consistent. It’s taken time and small moments to build a connection. It’s worth every minute when you get the impromptu big hug and the I love you when you least expect it. He is a daddy’s boy so there is time and space between these moments. This winter the two of us had the pond to ourselves and we played ice hockey. I had so much fun with him – talking trash and racing around (praying I wouldn’t break a bone). Another treasure in a bottle moment – to keep forever. He’s another child that reminds me to stop and play. To not take myself so seriously (“come on Justineee”),

Little Big Man is also a singer. You can catch him in the car or when he’s working in the yard with his dad (he’ll belt out some Christian song lyrics when you least expect it). You know that song Fancy Like by Walker Hayes? It was his favorite for awhile and we were driving around one day with it blasting when he shouted out…our family is fancy in a different kind of way. It was perfect, because our family is fancy in a different way. Like Applebees on a date night…Vespa instead of a Tesla…and all the other quirky things about us. He was spot on.

One of my favorite things to do is watch Little Big Man play basketball. A couple years ago he tried out for a basketball team and didn’t make it. He stumbled upon a different team and immediately earned his reputation as a junkyard dog. He’s a different kind of ball player. He’s small, but mighty on the defense. The coaches praised him for his speed and skills, and he earned a special place on a diverse team where he built his confidence and became a better ball player (there’s that resiliency).

Last, but not least his tender heart. It’s in there under that tough exterior. He loved his student teacher this year and cried on his last day. He recently wrote a story about his most important possession being a picture of him and his grandma. He’s a snuggler (mostly with his dad), and has a sweet affinity with his younger sister (we call them the Bobbsey Twins) where you can just see their imaginations in motion. He loves to fish and always has a BIG one on the line. His best bro and him remind me of Grumpy Old Men when they get to going. He’s one of a kind, and he has an extra special place in my heart.