Boys and Baseball go together like Peanut Butter and Jelly. I LOVE having boys! Especially if that means that I will spend my Spring evenings enjoying the fresh air of the ball park. Our first born is playing in his second season of this organized sport. I find that baseball is a difficult sport to explain to a young one. And we don't sit around as a family watching baseball on TV, so my boys don't really have a lot to work off of. The rules of this "machine pitch" league aren't as generous as tee ball. They actually allow for outs and strike outs. His first up to bat he had a few swings and misses. 2 strikes down. He swung and made contact. It wasn't pretty, but it was contact and it was fair. He ran to first and was safe! Phew! Success! Again, not pretty, but hey, he was on base. He then advanced to second. While he was on second a teammate whopped the ball into the outfield. The 3rd base coach was waving C1 on encouraging him to keep running. And he did. He ran halfway down the 3rd base line and right into the dugout without ever going to home plate. The field coaches were full of confusion and the stands were filled with laughter. As I was reminiscing that evening a memory pleasantly surprised me. I hadn't forgotten it all together, but it had been tucked away for a while.
During his first season of tee ball, in Indiana in 2017, we had a similar experience. The kind where your child is the one that makes the spectators roar with laughter. I remember it vividly. He was so small, competing in a sport that is so confusing. There he was at his first up to bat off the tee. He had a good, solid swing. He made contact. Yes! And he ran... DOWN THE CORRECT BASE LINE! Yessss!!!! Parental Victory! Until... he ran right past his own hit that was taking a stroll down the first base line. Mid jog, he picked up the ball and threw it to the pitcher. Then jovially continued on his journey to 1st base.
Laugh Loudly! Laugh Often! And most importantly, Laugh At Yourself - and your children.
