OK, everyone who has ever known me or read a blog post knows about my terrible experience with soccer.
My older son begged to play, I spent a million dollars and cleared my schedule, and got tortured every week while he either cried he didn’t want to play, or spent the hour running up and down the field with the sole intention of never getting near the ball.
This went on for three seasons, because I always believed my boys would be involved in sports. My little one always told me he would play t-ball, but he needed to be five in order to play.
He turned five.
I signed him up for t-ball.
Already I know this will be an interesting experience.
We were very excited to go to the first practice. Now, I’m a big Mets fan, so there is always a baseball game on during the season. Somehow, I guess I thought that would be enough for my son to know the game.
The coach rounded up ten little boys and one girl and did a run around the bases for a warm up. I took my older son with me, who was delighted to crunch on Lucky Charms cereal and stay safely on the bleachers. As soon as they began running, my older son stood up and began screaming at the top of his lungs:
“Go, Joshie, go, go, you can do it, you can win this – yay Joshie, yay!!!!!!!!!!!”
Embarrassed, I pulled him back down on the seat and explained it was a warm up and there was no need to cheer his brother on. Cute, but every time Josh even moved in the field, my older one began screaming again.
Practice has been a disaster – but absolutely hysterical. When the coach told them all the run to first base, they split up in ten different directions, and my son ended up in centerfield. Then there’s the matter of his best friend from pre-k. They’re like two little girls, giggling, talking about superheroes, and not paying attention to anything around them.
My son can throw but can’t catch. He can’t even squeeze his mitt together. I see a long line of lengthy games in my future, on Saturday afternoons while my older son gleefully relaxes and lets his brother take center stage.
And what’s worse? This is only the beginning. Who knows what will stretch ahead: football, music, wrestling, basketball?
Do you children play sports? Do you have any funny sport stories to share? Click on the number above and come share!
Hi Jen!
My son played baseball from age 5 to age 12. Town teams. Travel teams. All star teams. My kids (now teenagers) often comment on the fact we never took many week long “official” vacations over the years. That’s because weekend tournaments for baseball/soccer in Albany, long Island, Cooperstown, Maryland, Washington and I can’t remember where else, add up in time and money. But I enjoyed the sports and met a lot of really great friends. The practices are actually the reason I started reading!
HI Wendy! Yep, that is exactly what I am afraid of! Lack of fun due to responsibility on the field…but it’s part of having kids and getting them involved! Thanks for sharing!
My son has been in TBall, soccer, karate, and swim lessons. I find them all some of the biggest comedy hours EVER! (Well, when it’s not my son doing something unexpected).
I like when other kids act out, it makes me feel good. LOL
In South Dakota the weather can be pretty unpredictable, but the last year we did soccer my son had a game during a windy snowy day. He swore he’d never play soccer again. And he hasn’t LOL.
I have two terribly unsporty daughters. No soccer. No baseball. No lacrosse.
I have, on the other hand, spent many, many hours at the dance studio. Kind of like a watered down version of Dance Moms.