April 18, 2009
take me out to the ball park (and bring me a beer, please)
My kids are playing baseball this season, for the first time ever. I have to admit that I’m not much of a baseball fan; it’s just too slow for me. I prefer basketball, which might explain why we have two hoops in our backyard.
Last year we opted out of baseball; soccer and basketball had worn us down, and we lived in fear that the kids might actually like baseball, or be good at it, and then we would be stuck going to eight games a week for the next ten years.
In other words, we would turn into Chris and Rob.
But this year, the boys’ friends were all playing baseball and we’re all about the running around and the making friends, so we signed them up. And then Henry decided he didn’t really want to play and I killed him gave him a pep talk because you’re signed up, son, and we’re going to see it through! But I was secretly hoping he would hate baseball and I would only have ONE kid playing next year.
(Because we knew Charlie was going to love t-ball. He’s like that.)
Our first three games were rained out, thank god, because that gave the kids an extra couple of weeks to practice, but last night, despite a weather forcast that included the words “100% chance of rain” we finally played a game. Two, in fact.
And dammit if it wasn’t fun.
Charlie put his uniform on at 3:45 for a 7:00 game; he couldn’t wait to get out on the field. For a variety of reasons (including second grade track practice) I missed most of his game, but I got to see him play two innings of third base, which was so cute it nearly killed me.
This is Wade coaching Charlie’s team; this particular moment was actually one of the high points of his evening. He had Dugout Duty last night, which meant he had to keep track of the batting order AND keep the kids from going berserk while they waited to hit. At one point he came over to where my friend Julie and I were sitting and said, “This is like teaching kindergarten! OH WAIT IT IS KINDERGARTEN!” Julie had spent the entire week subbing in the kindergarten class, so she was feeling for him.
But she did not offer to help in the dugout. Hell no.
I have to admit to you all that I was worried about Henry. Not for any good reason — his coach has told me probably four times recently how well he’s playing, but still, I was worried. I worried that he would step in front of the pitching machine and get beaned or trip over first base or get smacked in the face with the ball. Or possibly all three.
He proved me wrong, in every possible way, thank god. He had two base hits, a single and a double, and did really well in the field. And he payed attention and knew what was where for the entire hour and a half of the game.
It was awesome.
Wade was much more relaxed during the second game; apparently coaching kids who don’t scream constantly or pig pile each other in the dugout or arm wrestle between innings is a lot simpler than, well, coaching kids who do. But it was still a long night.
Henry’s team lost, 7 - 4, but they played one hell of a game. The little kid game was so cute it made my ovaries hurt, but those big boys were awesome. I don’t know who was more hepped up after the game, the kids or the parents, but we were all giddy and jumping around.
And that was just the first game.
Posted by Susan @ 5:24 pm • Henry&Charlie
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April 18th, 2009 at 8:21 pm, Sue @ My Party of 6 Says:
I love this! Great pictures.
I love being in charge of the dugout - I’m the meanest mom. Heh. The only problem is my 3-year old who wanders out in traffic while I am checking the batting order. I always forget her leash.
April 18th, 2009 at 9:28 pm, chris Says:
Yup, it is fun. But shhhhh, don’t tell anyone I said that because what would I complain about then???
April 18th, 2009 at 10:35 pm, Jet Says:
Oh, good for Henry! And he looks very handsome in his uniform!
April 18th, 2009 at 10:52 pm, Jenny, Crash Test Mommy Says:
I remember many, MANY spring evenings spent watching my younger brother play baseball. My son spent two seasons on the baseball (T-ball) field totally bored, and moved on to other sports. I was secretly relieved. It is a BIG time commitment. Not that my daughter’s competitive soccer leaves our family with much free time. (Think monthly out of state tournaments.)
April 18th, 2009 at 11:18 pm, Valerie Says:
I have to admit, I’m jealous.
I had 13 years watching my son play Little League and high school ball and it was so much fun. He’s moved on to softball and it’s just not the same. Except for that first state tournament, where you realize those guys sitting behind you in the stands are there to scout the competition and they’re saying not-so-flattering things about YOUR BABY (and his teammates) in order to build up the confidence of their own players… and the mama bear in you wants to claw their eyes out until you realize that your 15-year old son probably won’t appreciate it the way you imagine.
*sigh* I really do miss it, though.
April 18th, 2009 at 11:58 pm, Tracey Hewison Says:
Your boys are so darn cute in their uniforms! I am so happy to hear that everyone had such a fabulous, fun time
I have two boys also, they are hockey players, that’s what we do up here in the ‘Great White North’…I sit in freezing arenas and cheer them on like it’s the NHL! Enjoy!
April 19th, 2009 at 1:43 am, Headless Mom Says:
I heart baseball. And it looks like you have the makings of very fine ball players there. Welcome to the club.
April 19th, 2009 at 3:09 am, The Coffee Lady Says:
Aw! This is just like America looks like in the films.
April 20th, 2009 at 9:40 am, pnut Says:
Oh, yay, I’m so glad it turned out good for all of you. My son has played since he was 6yrs. old, we didn’t do t-ball because we thought he’d be bored and I’m so glad we went for it and started out with machine pitch. He’s now gone on to be on a “select” team and last summer we traveled to the USSA World Series in Louisianna, and won the whole darn thing in our division!! It was awesome! Never screamed so loud and so long, it was such a high for all of us. And we’ve now made a new “family” with our team and really enjoy the good times that baseball brings. Like you I wasn’t a fan until it was MY kid out there, truly a Baseball Mama now!
April 20th, 2009 at 4:39 pm, Kim Yamaguchi Says:
Your boys are seriously seriously cute. I *wish* I could talk even ONE of my sons into playing SOME sport (I mean, I have *6* boys! You’d think one of them would want to play! (ok well again, two of them are babies but STILL!)). But for now, all I have is a girl in Girl Scouts.
April 20th, 2009 at 11:10 pm, Amy Says:
So glad you’re enjoying it! Dugout duty is the hardest job EVER, in my opinion.
We’re into our eighth year of having at least one kid playing in the local league, and I have to admit I’ve grown to really love those hours at the ball park. (Also the hot dogs and the Red Rope licorice, which explains the annual springtime weight gain.)
April 21st, 2009 at 11:14 am, Sarah @ BecomingSarah.com Says:
I love the pictures! And this is a pretty encouraging post as well. My husband looks forward to enrolling his kids in softball or baseball (I suppose this depends on if they’re boys or girls?) (I don’t know much about these things) and I keep thinking OH LORD NO, PLEASE NO. I plan on really cherishing the YEARS that I have left before any children I have are old enough for either of those sports, but at least you make it sound not-so-bad!
April 22nd, 2009 at 7:55 pm, Jennifer txmomof3 Says:
I love that he wanted his uniform on so early. Even if our game is at 6:30 on Sat night, we put them on first thing. There’s not much more fun in the world than running errands on a Saturday with two boys in little league uniforms. Plus for us, add in the little sister that we actually had to buy another jersey for because she couldn’t BEAR being out of uniform if her brothers were all costumed up.
Here’s one I wrote on a game, tho I was hungover when I was writing it, so it’s more pictures than writing…
http://txmomof3.wordpress.com/2009/04/06/batter-up/