Good morning!
My home is clean.
I’m showered and ready to start the day.
It’s beautiful outside, and I hear we’re supposed to get thunderstorms later. (I love those!)
Listen. If you’re getting sick of hearing Baseball talk, you can click the X above and skip all of this, but if not – then let’s talk about it.
My little dude (Elijah) had a game the night before last and last night.
The game the night before last, he did amazing.
It was an away game at another school.
The other team was winning.
So, when Elijah was up to bat, and he cracked the ball half way across the field, and ran – parents and his team on our side all cheered, and we were all so excited! 😊
He smiled when he got to 1st base, and I smiled because I knew he was happy and proud. He always says he sucks, but I always remind him this is his first year playing on a team and not just for fun, so he’s not going to be perfect.
I don’t expect him to be perfect.
This isn’t the major leagues!
I’m not one of those moms who take it seriously.
I want my kid to go out there, give it his best and still have fun / enjoy it.
Nobody is coming to recruit your kid to their team for college or professional ball right now. If you’re one of the moms or dads who lose her mind over your kid not making a good play, or decision on the field, calm down! If you’re one of those moms or dads, have a beer or something after – but don’t take it out on your kid!
I understand that some parents feel like they’re preparing their kids for continuing this sport well on into high school and beyond but worry about all that when they’re teenagers in high school – or beyond.
My son said yesterday – that one of the coaches yelled at his kid in the dugout – in front of the team – because he was goofing off on the field.
My son said the kid cried – in front of the team. He was hurt. He was embarrassed. I don’t blame the kid.
And let me tell you…..
The game the night before last – when my son ran to 2nd base, some mom from the other team started screaming at one of the kids on the field, “You could have caught that! What are you doing? Pay attention!”. She was angry that my son hit 2nd base and the player chasing the ball – didn’t catch it before my son hit 2nd.
Calm down, homegirl! You’ll survive! 👀
Your team might lose, but you’ll survive. (I say that with humor), but damn. I can’t understand for the life of me – why parents take this so seriously when these kids are young and should just be enjoying themselves out there.
I don’t believe in putting all that stress and pressure on kids to be perfect in a sport, as long as they’re trying and giving it their all. 🩵
I’m NOT okay when I hear a parent, coach or someone who should be encouraging a kid – going off on them, making nasty comments, making them cry over a sport, or putting them down.
If I would have heard the coach yelling at his kid over the game and saw the kid crying, I would have said something – because that’s unnecessary!!!
What if I yell at you, sir? What if I embarrass you in front of all these parents, other coaches, and your team?
I asked my son if that same coach had ever yelled at him, and he said no.
Maybe I should start hanging out by the dugout and listening.
Anyway – the first game the night before last was beautiful.
My son made it back to the home plate, and the cheers for him were wild and so awesome. 💕
When he entered the dugout – his team wrapped him in a group hug, jumped up and down, patted his back and they all tapped the top of his helmet……more like banging on it – he says, but it was the cutest thing.
Everyone was so happy.
Another boy after him scored and we ended up winning.
Take that – Ms. Serious mom from the other team!
I wanted to look at her and be like:
VICTORY DANCE!
Again, I’m just being funny, but stop taking your kids games seriously if they’re 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. Give them a break and you should just be having fun as well, and be happy that they’re not in the streets causing trouble and getting arrested.
So, we won the night before, and last night – we lost.
And – that’s okay!
Last night though……
Ooooooohhhhhhh …..last night though ……
There was this mom standing behind me by the bleachers. She had her kids with her, and one of them (a boy about my son’s age or a little older) – knew half of our team, so he was cheering on everyone who was playing from our team.
We played another team from our school, (different age group), so they all knew each other.
My son was in the outfield at one point, and the ball rarely flies out there, so my son (although he should) doesn’t always stay ready when he’s out there.
We did have a talk about it last night before the game and when the ball did fly past him, he quickly ran to grab it, turned to see what was happening, so he knew where to throw it – and this mom quietly told her son (as the other teams players hit the bases and were safe), “Oh my God! If he would have ran a little faster, he could have gotten it and got them out. He let it go right by him”. She kept going and going with other things she was saying, and my ears were open!
I can hear perfectly, so when her son asked who she was talking about, she mentioned, The outfielder. He should have…..”, and she kept going.
Her own son had to tell her, “He didn’t know the ball was going to fly past him. It’s not his fault! He ran as soon as he saw it. Don’t blame him”.
I tried, and God knows it. I really tried to keep my mouth shut, but my daughter was with me and I loudly said, “Speak up! The outfielder is mine!”.
She still kept going and started calling him “The little one” – and trying to be a little quieter, but I was right there. I could still hear her from where we were standing, so my daughter made me laugh when she took off one of her slides, and handed it to me. 😁
If I’m being honest, all I could think of – was that scene in the great movie (The Blind Side) – where Leigh Anne Tuohy goes off on the man in the stands behind her – who keeps talking about her adopted son.
I don’t know if she didn’t hear me or didn’t care when I said the Outfielder is mine, but obviously – she had a problem and this is what I’m talking about.
Parents. Coaches. Whoever you are. JUST LET THEM HAVE FUN AND BE HAPPY THEY’RE TRYING!
It drives me crazy when someone talks down to or talks about a child and what they could have done better in a sport, rather than just encouraging them and helping them get better.
I absolutely love the coaches and parents who yell, “That’s okay! You’re doing great. Better luck next time. You got this! Shake it off, it’s okay! Nice try!”.
My son ran up to me after the game yesterday and said they lost. I told him it’s okay, and reminded him of the win the night before.
He said he didn’t do good because he didn’t hit any of the balls. I told him not many of our kids did yesterday. They played an older team I believe and that older team was really good.
I told my son not every day is going to be a win. Not every day is going to be cracking the balls across the field like he did the night before, and that’s normal. I told him he tried his best, and he played a good game. 🩵
That’s how it should be!
This coach that yelled at his kid in front of everyone yesterday – told him they were going to have a talk when they got home.
Kids don’t need that crap.
Show up and shut up if you don’t have anything nice to say.
They don’t need to feel like failures, or that the parent / coaches aren’t proud. They don’t need “talks”….unless they’re encouraging. They don’t need to walk into that field in the next game – scared or worried that if they do something wrong, the parent or coach is going to flip.
Show up and Shut up!
When we encourage these kids in sports, they’ll know they can make mistakes, have bad days, bad games, and still know that we love them and we’re proud and that there’s no negativity if they don’t do their best on certain days.
I really wish I would have heard that coach yelling at putting his kid down yesterday – because yes, I would have said something! His kid or not…it’s never okay.
For the love of the game, if I EVER hear him yell at MY kid – Jesus, take the wheel!
It’s a game! These kids are young. Colleges and the big leagues aren’t coming to their games to scout them right now, so chill out!
****
In other news, I was planning a cute 18th birthday for my youngest daughter (who turns 18 next month), and I mentioned to a few of her friends that I’d be having something for her.
I said I’d let them know.
I mean – 18 is a huge milestone that has to be celebrated, right?
My daughter messaged me while I was out this week, and she asked why I told some of her friends that she was having an 18th birthday.
She was NOT happy about it and said she doesn’t want a party. She made it so clear, and she said there’s a few places she wants to go on her birthday but absolutely does not want a party.
Last year for her 17th, we went wherever she wanted to go, and I got her a Sash and crown to wear, but this year – upon not wanting a party, she also told me she doesn’t want a sash and crown.
I told her it’s her 18th, and that’s huge.
Still, I guess I have to respect her wishes, right?
It sucks when kids get older and start clearly stating what they want and don’t want, and no matter what you want to do for them, give them or how you think things should go – you have to honor their wishes sometimes and go with the flow.
I want her to be happy on her 18th, and the places she wants to go – are simple, so that’s what we’re doing for her birthday.
I guess it’s easier on me as well because it’s less money than a big party, and it’s less stressful from not having to plan a big party, so I should be thrilled that she doesn’t want one.
I can’t believe I’ll have another adult child next month, and then – there’s only 8 more years until my little dude turns 18, as he’ll be 10 in November.
Time needs to slow the hell down.
My daughter is turning into her own person now, and she’s finding who she is and figuring out what she wants to do with her life. She’s becoming more independent, and she’s so ready to get a job and have her own money.
I am so proud of her!
She has also learned how to play around with ChatGPT, so apparently, we went to Puerto-Rico, and I have a boyfriend now. 🤣
The trip we never took.
LOL.
She makes me giggle when she creates and sends me these fun photos, and I joked with her yesterday that now I kind of want to find a boyfriend and travel to Puerto-Rico. ❤️🤔❤️
My darlings.
I hope you have a beautiful day.
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🍵Shel🍵