As a parent, I have all of these ideas about lessons I would like my children to learn. Rob and I agree on almost all and one of them was that we wanted them to learn teamwork and what it is like to be a part of something bigger than yourself. So we have this rule that they are required to participate in one team sport. So as spring was coming around and all of the fliers went home about sports, we sat down with them to decide what sport they would play.
Jackson decided on baseball, which we were thrilled about. As a toddler he would sit and watch the Little League World Series for hours. He would go to the cabinet and get out a bowl and put it on his head as a helmet and then get a duster or anything else he could find to pretend it was a bat. He loved baseball. His first word was ball. So when he didn't want to play baseball once he was old enough to sign up we didn't understand. So finally, our little ball lover is playing baseball. He loves it. He is so cute in his uniform. He has played pitcher, short stop, first base, catcher and outfield. He loves first base and pitcher the best so far. All of the practice and clinics have taken a toll on Rob and I though. It is hard to work all day then rush to a practice for several hours then rush home to do homework, feed them, take a bath, and get them in bed. I was beginning to think the kids had taught us a lesson, that sometimes doing less is more enjoyable. Then at his game this week, he tagged a runner out while playing short stop and seeing his face made it all worth it.
Maisy and Caleb are playing soccer. Last Saturday, we had two games back to back in 50 degrees and raining weather. It was so cold, windy and wet, I was worried about Charlie sitting out in that weather and getting sick. I was freezing and my hands were numb. Maisy was cute running with her teammates and the look on her face was so intense. I could see the neurons building pathways of the enjoyment human connections can give. Then Caleb after a very hard game in which they lost by 1 point, said I assisted in 3 goals and I kicked the ball 13 times. It was wonderful how he got the fact that he didn't score the goal but the goal could not have been scored had he not passed the ball. I was so tired after the game, I started to cry thinking about how many more games we have. Just getting 4 kids to all of their events with the correct equipment and uniform on sometimes takes divine intervention. But the lesson I have learned is that sometimes the things that take the most work, are the things that are the most rewarding.
