Daddy kicked me, but it only hurt a little

Ella was super excited today to go to the soccer store and pick out pink and white soccer shoes and shin guards for soccer starting this week.  Of course, Jeff was in his element, too (shoes, sports, what more could he ask for?).  The very instant we were back in the car she had to put on the shin guards.  They look kind of strange when paired with Crocs, by the way.  I kept looking back at her, with her pink and silver guards -- feet propped up on the back of Jeff's seat, thinking how quickly she grew up.   Before we could make dinner she had all the soccer gear on and Jeff took her out to the garage to kick a ball at her shins (yes, really, he did and please don't call child protection).  Even though we've been prepping Ella for "soccer reality", meaning that she will probably get kicked or shoved, we are pretty sure that her easily bruised ego and sensitive nature will cause her to burst promptly into tears the second another kid does any of the above.  So really,  Jeff's intentions (a little barbaric as they may seem) were to show her that her shin guards will help her legs not get hurt if she gets kicked.  I guess it worked, because Ella proclaimed that, "Daddy kicked me, but it only hurt a little."