Baseball Fever

This weekend I got my first taste of intense, crazy baseball parents and coaches. While I have to say the experience was far superior to the many wrestling meets we've been a part of, I was still a bit shocked after our first day of playing. Will is part of a local 9-year old baseball team in which he had to try out for to be a member. I knew it would be a competitive league, and I knew it would be a big commitment, but since he absolutely LOVES baseball, we went for it. Between Will and Charlie, the practices have pretty much taken over our lives and the supplies have put a dent in our checkbook - BUT they are having a blast and learning a lot - so all is good.

This weekend was Will's first game (which also happened to be an all weekend tournament). We started off Saturday morning by finding out one of our best pitchers broke his arm that morning while riding his bike. Not Good. (At this age, pitchers are hard to develop - so this was a major blow). Luckily, we had several others who had been practicing, so our coach still seemed optimistic.

The first game, the kids played great against an experienced team, and when the ref called the game, we had won 7-5. Our parents and kids were celebrating as the players lined up to shake hands when all of a sudden, a parent from the other team started shouting that we still had five minutes left to play. Huh? We started the game at 2:15pm, it was currently 3:50 pm, games are 1.5 hours long - so it was OVER. Over! Our ump, who was clueless, started to doubt himself on what time he started the game... was it 2:15pm or 2:25pm?? We had the time documented as 2:15pm, but the other coach's chest started to get all puffy, his face began to resemble the color of his shirt (bright orange), and he started in on the arguing. The ump bowed out to let the coaches figure it out - what?! As more orange shirts joined the fight, it was clear that the other team was *insane*, wasn't going to back down, and planned on bullying us until they got their way.

The next thing we knew, the game had started AGAIN, and we were playing another inning. The kids were confused, the other team was revved up and enraged, and in the end, they beat us by one. It was totally disgusting. By the time it was done, our kids had played for over two hours, they were tired and upset... and were late for their next game. You can imagine how that one went.

To make matters worse, the ump approached our coach afterwards to APOLOGIZE and admit that he was in the wrong... and that it never should have happened that way. OH GOLLY THANKS. Try explaining that one to your nine year old. "Yes honey, you did win, but then you didn't"...

With two losses from the first day, we were kicked into the 'Silver' bracket for the following day - but we were okay with that. The kids played their hearts out despite missing players (another pitcher got the stomach flu Sunday morning), and the day went much better. The kids played great, we had a lot of fun and guess what - WE WON first place! :-) Great job 9U Vikings!

Buckle Up!

Lately, I'm starting to feel the effects of becoming a non-stop shuttle for my kids. I've heard other parents complain about all the running they do to get their kids here and there, but without having done much myself, I can't say I've had much sympathy. My answer was simple: Don't let them go out for so much crap!

WELL (*throat clearing*), I now find myself eating my own words. I am getting glimpses of my future with two boys in back to back grades-- playing sports, and it's making me cringe! Not only does living in the country add time to all my trips, but practices and games are scattered between two towns, making coordination a little difficult. Throw piano lessons in there and it makes it complete. I often find myself asking, "When are we supposed to eat dinner?!"

And as far as saying "NO". Yeah. Am I really going to look Charlie in his sad little face and tell him he can't go out for baseball (*because they're nuts and started practicing in FEBRUARY*) because he's currently going out for basketball? It's not his fault the seasons are overlapping at this age. Obviously whoever is coordinating baseball doesn't have a kid in basketball right now! But really, it won't matter in the end. As soon as basketball finishes up, baseball with increase in practices and games... so it's a wash. I just need to just suck it up - and accept the fact that I just added one more hat to my current array... a taxi driver's hat.

Take Me out to the BALLgame

When Ben's step-dad suggested we go to to a minor league baseball game, I wasn't so sure. I knew there was a local team, and our kids do love baseball, but figured they'd never sit through a whole game - especially Jacob. Tickets were cheap, and we didn't have much else going on, so we decided to pack up the fam and head to one of the last home games. And you know what? It was fun!

The stadium is decent sized (nothing like a pro stadium), lots of vending and give-aways and every seat in the place was great. I had to laugh at myself because before heading out the door, I threw two pairs of little binoculars in my bag for the boys - HAHA we did NOT need them. Our 'premium' seating section (which cost ten bucks per ticket) even had padded chairs with backs and cup holders. Yeah!

The kids got to watch some great players in action, run the bases after the game, play catch in the outfield and even watch a kick-ars fireworks display at the end.  That's right - we made it through the whole game! 

You can't make me!

I had a real eye opener last night after baseball.  It was the last game of the season, so we all headed into town for the team to have ice cream together. While sitting outside on the bench next to some other parents, we got to talking about our kids (gee what a shocker). Topics ranged from how crappy today's cartoons are, how to get kids to actually do what you tell them to and how to instill the value of a dollar.  

Growing up, I must have either done everything the first time my mom asked or I was just never asked to do anything at all.  I wish my memory was better, but I really don't remember any harping by my mother... but since I didn't even know how to clean a bathroom, boil water or wash dishes since I was in college or after... and the only memory I have of my bedroom is that of a disaster zone, I think I can probably extrapolate and come to the right conclusion .  Ben grew up on a farm where his mom and sister took care of all the 'inside' stuff (making beds, laundry and cleaning up after dinner) while he, his dad and brother did the chores outside.  That's just the way it was.  Ben was asked to do a lot of farm work (and he did) from a very young age, and I grew up being waited on... so we often find ourselves at odds with each other when trying to determine the appropriate responsibility level for the boys. We do however both agree that we want our kids to have a good work ethic and don't want them to be spoiled - ha.  EASIER SAID THAN DONE.

So, I'm sitting there last night listening to the man who poured our concrete foundation talk about his parenting philosophies, and I realize that he is a genius and that our kids have it wayyyyy too easy.   He's got two sons in Kindergarden and 2nd grade.  The 2nd grader is in Will's class, but since we started Will late in Kindergarten, Will's actually a year older.  While we were discussing how much all of our kids like Tom and Jerry, Concrete Guy says "Cartoons are okay in the morning while they eat breakfast, but after that the TV is off all day unless it's educational''.  Hmmm interesting.  He continued on from there while I took mental notes.  (um, could you repeat that part for me where your kid operates the skid loader?) Granted, these people live on a farm, but I could not believe the amount of help this 8-year old is able to offer to his Dad.  Chores (real ones) every morning and night, no matter what. This kid is asked to do 20 times what our boys are and probably dish out only a tenth of the whining.  When I found out that 8-year old helped his dad build fence two days in a row for EIGHT hours each LAST SUMMER, that was the topper.  All I could do was sit there stunned and think of my lazy, complaining and UNDER-WORKED crew of little men I have at home.  

When I got home and reported all of this to Ben, I of course got the 'I told you so' look while he started ticking off a list of jobs our kids could and should be doing.  Oh boy, did I open up a can of worms or what.  And excuse me sir - no they are not going to start mowing the lawn!!!!  Jeez.  What was I thinking even bringing up this topic?!  So, I've got some thinking to do on my own.  Right now, the biggest jobs our kids have are setting the table, feeding the cats and picking up toys.  And believe me, to get those things accomplished, I've got to tell them 564 times and listen to ten minutes of whining each time.  It's ridiculous!  I've tried the charts and stickers and points and all of that... it works for a while, but it's such a pain!  I might try money...  but shouldn't kids just DO what they're supposed to without being bribed?  *sigh*  I'm open for suggestions.