The Gay, Breastfeeding HOCKEY Dad?

Last week we celebrated our son's second birthday! We've been breastfeeding for two years.

Jacob is still dedicated to 'nay-nay.' He asks to nurse frequently throughout the day, always nurses to sleep for his nap, and still breastfeeds many times during the night.

His other main passion is hockey! We play hockey every day, inside and out, we read hockey books, and watch hockey videos on YouTube.

How did the gay, breastfeeding dad end up with such a hockey-loving son, you ask? A few months ago, we took Jacob swimming at a sports complex that also had a hockey rink. On a whim, we wandered in to watch the game that was going on, and our kid has been hooked ever since. That day, he watched the big kids playing and hitting the boards. He eagerly called out, "Owee! Crash!" and immediately learned the words 'hockey,' 'puck,' 'net,' and 'goal.' He sobbed in anguish, toddler-style, when the game was over and it was time to go home.

Another word my son shouts during hockey games is 'nay-nay.' When he sees a player take a hard fall, he insists the guy should nurse. It's what makes sense to him. I've nursed Jacob several times when we're both wearing skates and parkas following owees of his own on the ice at our community club.

I have a feeling that both hockey and nursing will be with us to stay for quite a while, and I'm curious to see how that will play out. These days, I get approving smiles from the macho hockey dads who see us at the ice rink. "He just loves it!" I tell them. They respond with, "It's good to start 'em young! Good on ya." We do some skating on our own and then usually find a place to nurse for a bit to recover from the cold. So far no one's noticed.

I'm trying to imagine nursing Jacob in a year or two amongst the other hockey dads after he's cut his lip in an 'owee crash.' I can't quite picture it yet, but I'm sure we'll find our way, and hopefully make some friends in the process.