“Son! Watch the bawl! Watch the dang bawl!”
Fewer things are more dramatic, yet more fulfilling, than spending time at little league baseball games. Practice starts when you still need a heavy coat and by mid-way through the season, the gnats and heat overtake you. Well, at least in southeast Alabama, anyway. But, what about the benefits!? There is great food at concession stands, wonderful conversations, the thrill of cheering on the young players and seeing their faces light up when the aluminum bat hits the ball. I think it always surprises them.
Now, I am a dad of two boys and a beautiful girl. My kids have been a part of numerous sports and activities for most of their childhood. But, baseball. Oh, baseball.
It’s the time of year when all social activities are on hold for three nights a week at the ball field.
It will bring out the best in us as parents.
But, if I had to be honest, my advice is keep an eye on the moms. I am kidding, sort of.
With their huge custom embroidered bags, pastel colored smartphone cases, and fun-size snacks for the younger kids in tow, they bring their “A-Game”. They bring it, every. Single. Game.
At any moment, over the past ten years of our kids being involved in sports, I expected a mom to go full “Rick Flair” from the smoking hot aluminum bleachers. I’d love for you to send me some of the funniest phrases shouted at your ball fields.
You’ve seen the mom I am talking about. Heck, there’s even dads out there like this, but the moms always shock me.
Remember the movie The Blindside with Tim McGraw and Sandra Bullock?
Bullock played the role of Leigh Anne Tuohy, an enthusiastic mom and caregiver of a future NFL draft prospect. It was based on a true story.
The phrase, you are thinking it now, that Tuohy (Bullock) made famous through the movie was “run the dang ball!” Sean Tuohy’s (McGraw) face is an accurate reflection of the face many dad’s have at little league ball fields across America.
Now, I know you have heard similar phrases belted from the stands. We say weird stuff when our kids are competing. Can we agree on that?
Stuff like,
“Son! Watch the bawl! Watch the dang bawl!”
“Now you’re ready. Now you’re ready. This nextuns’ yers!”
“That’s aight son, you’ll get the nextun!”
“Keep your eye on the bawl!”
It’s always shocking when a mom shouts it though. Often, she’s the quiet, modest, and reserved one close to you.
I say this tongue in cheek, but, there is a serious side to this. It excites me to have my wife enthusiastic about sports. It excites me to see other parents involved. But, what are we doing?
Are we trying to create a slew of future Major League Baseball stars or are we teaching work ethic? I want my son and his teammates to win every game. But, if they lose every game but come away with a lesson in learning how to lose with class, work your butt off, and improve, that is the real win.
One of the biggest issues our kids are dealing with is meeting expectations. The reality is they will not win a championship every time they compete in an event. Losing will happen, at some point or another, and we need to help develop resiliency in children. For me, I would rather my kids experience failure at a young age. It would be better to for them to learn how to get back up while they are still impressionable. I want them to learn why working hard, being consistent, and never quitting is important in life while they are still living with me.
Whatever sport your kids play, do yourself a favor and encourage your kids to keep swinging the bat. Teach them to keep hustling and, by all means, teach them to keep their heads held high, regardless of what the scoreboard says.
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