Journey into Little League

This morning started like any other Saturday during baseball season...except that Micah didn't have a game and so he was soooo upset.

Our schedule for Becca given to us (finally...it was a long wait...after the first game) by her coach said that she had a game at 11:30 this morning. Well, after a huge fight with Micah because he wanted to play today (he usually has games every Saturday at 9:30, but this week was spring break for his league). We finally convinced him to go to watch Becca's game (since Tony started umpiring this week so I had to have all the kids).We got to the park...no coach. Hmm...well, people run late sometimes, right? Well, other kids started to show up...still no coach. Two other teams showed up...wait, 2 teams? Finally, Becca's coach arrived. Just as the other two teams started playing. What is going on? The coach goes to find out. Apparently, he put the wrong time on the schedule. Her game was at 9...am...yeah, we missed it.

A whole bunch of crying kids later...

The coach decides that he doesn't feel like staying and that he has better things to do than cheer up these kids with a cool practice or something. He leaves. One of the other dads says that he is going to go practice with his kids, so he invites Becca and the other kids to go with them, so we end up doing that.

A whole bunch of very angry parents later...

Becca still goes home upset. We change out of her uniform and tell her we're going out for lunch. She ends up crying because she really wants to wear her flip-flops, but she can't find one. I finally cheer her up by asking her to choose what she wants for lunch. Costco for pizza it is. Yeah, my kid is odd, I like it like that. I like Costco for meals because Micah can have the hot dogs without a bun there, and I can have a really awesome turkey wrap, and I can feed everyone for under 20 bucks. Becca likes Costco because after we eat we go in for free samples.

Last year my Little League experience was good for Micah, and it still is for him. We travel something like 20 miles twice a week to get to the league where there is a Challenger League for him. That really doesn't bother me as much as traveling less than 5 miles for a really upset 5 year old. Micah learned to really like the game without the pressure of a regular league there. The lady that runs his league is really awesome. She knows the names and dxs over 40 kids...and their parents...I think she knows all the siblings' names, too. She is really awesome. She does everything that she can just to make the kids have fun and play baseball. Coach Kelly is why Micah loves baseball.

I don't think I could say the same for Becca. She wants to like the game because she thinks she should. I think she wants to play because Daddy likes baseball. Still, she enjoys herself. She is really social, and the experience has helped her get to know some girls who she probably wouldn't have hung around with otherwise. These girls are the ones who's life doesn't revolve around how their hair is done and what color suits their mood to wear that day. They just like to play baseball.

Becca isn't really any good, and I don't see her wanting to continue much longer, but she will finish the season. She wants to like it, but I think that might wear off with the lack of decent coaching. I'm hoping that the other dads on the team are serious about taking over. They are fed up with this coach. He said that he really doesn't have time for practices...why coach then? His daughter and niece are on the team, and they are really good (therefore to him practice is unnecessary), but they really have bad attitudes. They have totally snubbed Becca from the start. Becca was just too pink for them.

Honestly, the practices that Becca went to before the season started were really good, and she learned a lot. Her coach did a good job before the season started.... Yeah, I'm looking for something good to say about the guy. I don't mean to totally trash the guy, but for me, it's really been one disappointment after another.

Tony was umpiring today. That's another league, too...yep, that makes 3...it's a little nuts. Next year the plan is pretty simple. Tony is starting a Challenger Division in the League where he umpires. He probably won't have time to umpire, but we will be starting this league so that Micah can play there and so that many of the parents that travel as far as we do (or just don't let their kids participate because it is too far) won't have to. It's a really good ministry opportunity, and I hope it goes well.

We will also be moving Becca to that league. I guess Little League rules say that if a parent works 2 years in a certain league, his kids can go to that league instead of the one where they live. That will be good because Tony knows the people there, and we will do everything we can to get Becca on a team she will enjoy. I don't know if she will want to continue with baseball, but I'll bet her daddy will convince her to give it a try again. He won't force her or anything, but Becca would do anything for her daddy.

My mom made an observation today that I found interesting. Any of the activites that I researched for my kids, they have enjoyed...the ones that I was convinced to put them in, I was constantly frustrated with. Not that the activites themselves were bad, but my kids get stuck with unprepared or untrained or uninterested coaches or staff, and I get really irritated. It made me think. It is a solid pattern. I don't know. I do know that before the twins get involved with any activity, I will be researching first, and then deciding. Zoe really wants to dance, and I did have a good experience with Becca's dance class, a class that I researched and found at a decent price with a good teacher (it wasn't a great program, the performances were so-so, but the teacher was awesome, and Becca learned and had fun). I think if Zoe keeps asking, I'll end up taking her there.

The only reason that she wants to do it, though, is because Becca did it. Becca got tired of it, but I think she really just needed a break. She told me recently that she would like to go back. I'll think about it after baseball season. One activity at a time. Especially since I am going crazy trying to get through baseball season. Too many kids in too many different places. If everyone was in the same place, I might be able to coordinate it. As it is, I just don't think I can.

So that was my day. After lunch we came home because I was feeling awful and really needed to go to bed. My mom was around, and she saw that I was in pain and told me to go lay down. She had the kids this afternoon while I tried to make the pain go away. By the time I felt better, dinner was on the table, and everyone was happy. We ate, had a little fun playing, and now the girls are in bed. Micah is fighting betime right now, so I gave him his meds (which is supposed to get him drowsy), and I am waiting for Tony to get home or Micah to change his mind and sleep, whichever comes first.

Now he is amusing himself by reaching over and randomly pushing buttons on the keyboard and giggling. I think he wants attention. I'm tired oqf pressing delete1. Gotta 1 go.