Planes, Trains, Automobiles...and Tractors

So it is official. I have a stereotypical little boy. A, loves-to-get-dirty, push trucks around, make unimaginable messes, eat unedible things, and talk about tractors, little he-man. These days in Cale's eyes, everything is a tractor. A train..."tracker". A dump truck..."tracker". A bus..."tracker". A lawn mower..."tracker". Certain questionable-looking trucks..."trackers". It's safe to say he's obsessed with things that 'go'. Ever since his Pops took him on a ride, he's been a tractor junkie. Which is strange considering he sat there on the verge of tears through the entire ride looking very concerned, kept reaching for me to save him, and had the shakes for several minutes after getting off. But, somehow, through the trauma, he ended up completely fascinated. Everytime we pull up to our new house, he chants, "tracker", "tracker". A few weeks ago, we made the mistake of pointing out Pop's tractor in the field, and even letting Cale sit in the seat and pretend to drive. So much for looking at the progress of the house, now. I spend most of my time making sure Cale doesn't fall off of the rusty, parked tractor. His little fingers always manage to find the grease spots on the tractor and then the hands always manage to end up on my shirt.

This past weekend, Carl bought Cale a used toy John Deer Tractor from a friend. Needless to say, he's smitten. It truly was love at first sight. He can't quite figure out how to push the pedal to make the tractor go, but loves it just the same. Occasionally, while getting onto the tractor his foot will land on the pedal in such a way, to give him the thrill of speed for a few seconds. But, then he moves his foot off the pedal and ends up sitting there wondering why the tractor stopped moving. Mostly he ends up pushing the tractor himself. At least he's building up some muscle, right?

It's so funny how little boys are born with that "boy" instinct. The instinct that tells them anything motorized or electronic is interesting. The instinct that says being outside is the only place worth being. The instinct that lures them to trying dangerous things (in Cale's case CLIMBING..on top of tables, chairs, dogs. The instinct that says being dirty is much more fun than being clean. The instinct that tells them driving anything (cars, tractors, bikes) is one of the best things in the world. Then, little boys grow up to be men who still dream of adventure, fast motorcycles, and the great outdoors. Boys will be boys, I guess.