Dueling Instincts

I am a poor sport. I do not like to compete and I hate to lose. I can't play a simple board game without becoming genuinely riled up and angry. One of the biggest fights in our marriage came during a game of Scrabble between me and Eric. (That is not a joke. We didn't speak for days.)

I was also born with an intense maternal instinct. I have always been a bit of a mama bear to my friends. I am very in tune with my kids. When Sam was a few months old I knew he was going to spit up five seconds before he did. I am their biggest supporter and there is nothing on Earth that could stop me from saving them if they ever needed me.

One of our many awesome Christmas presents came from Papa and Grandma Susan - a Wii. Eric and Sam have been playing with it a lot. I haven't had as much time with it so yesterday Eric kept Matilda upstairs so Sam and I could play. Sam chose boxing.

We stood side by side, holding our controllers, staring at ourselves in Wii form on the TV. The bell rang and we started punching. In the middle of the first round I knocked Wii Sam down. His little character was on the mat as mine danced around over him. It made my stomach twist. "Sam, I don't think I like this," I said. "This makes me really sad."

"Sad?" he said.

"I don't like hurting Sam, even when it's pretend," I said.

Wii Sam got up and the bell rang again. Wanting to keep playing with my son I started punching. We went another round before Wii Sam knocked Wii Emilie down. It was like a switch went off in my brain. When Wii Emilie got up I was ready.

Sam and I punched and jabbed. I was sweating and Sam was laughing. "You still sad, Mama?" he asked. I didn't reply. All I could hear was the voice in my head screaming, "Finish him. FINISH HIM!"

I won by a knockout in the final round. Sorry, maternal instinct...it looks like my need to win is just too strong.