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Home > Blogs > Adventures in Motherhood > Archives > 2011 > July > 05 > Entry
Win or lose, it’s about having fun (how quickly we forget)
My son’s Little League baseball season has drawn to a close.
Last season his team came in second place in the tournament. This year, his team lost only one regular season game. We - the team parents - were pleasantly surprised and even looked forward to the tournament.
We wondered; is this going to be their big year?
I am not a parent who thinks “no one should win” because Junior might get his feelings hurt. Not keeping score works great in T-ball, because the kids are too busy playing in the dirt to chase the baseball. But, in the real world, you win some and you lose some; that’s life.
Nothing wrong with a little healthy competition, right?
When the tournament began the boys pulled off a win in the first round. Game two came, but not without struggles.
It was a nail-biter. The boys weren’t playing their A-game and well, the parents weren’t on their A-game either - (ahem, myself included).
How quickly we all turned into sideline coaches yelling and hollering at the boys who were already flustered.
I am sure we were a big help because “You can NOT miss those grounders!” is certainly a motivating speech.
The boys pulled off the win by one run - which would become the theme for the rest of the tournament.
Game three ended with an ugly loss by one run.
The tension in the air was palpable and of course the boys wanted to win, but the screaming at umpires, ruthless “coaching,” sideline pacing, and negativity, again, was not helping either team.
By the time game four started, the coaches and parents on both teams were so fed up with the tension; we were thrilled to have just a simple, good ball game played well by both teams (or maybe everyone had an adult beverage prior to the opening pitch?).
Game four was another one-run win.
Anticipating the drama that could come with game five against the team our boys had lost to left us all “concerned” about game day.
It was a double elimination tournament, and this team hadn’t yet lost.
The pressure was on. Honestly, what 5/6/7-(or 35)-year-old doesn’t want a first place trophy?
But, win or lose, this was about our children and in 100 years - or even in an hour - it wouldn’t matter who won or who lost.
Game five ended with a one-run loss. Our boys were tournament runner-ups, but it was a well-played ball game (with no ugliness) and we are all so proud of them.
When the boys go back to school in August I hope they will high-five each other and say, “Remember when you hit that triple? What a fun game!” and not “Oh! Your coach was a meany and your mom was so loud!”
Great job, boys - all of you!
Contact this contributing writer at Motherhoodcolumn@yahoo.com or facebook.com/motherhoodCTC
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