Let's start with how absurd it is that the U6 team has to try out for t-ball and how they are drafted a few days later. I stood in line today with H & J for 1 hour and 15 minutes so that my son could hit 3 balls, run to second base, catch/throw 4 balls and then give a high five?!? This is outrageous...but perhaps that I find it to be outrageous because I don't have a competitive bone in my body (well at least when it comes to sports), or because I never completed tryouts or experienced the thrill of making the team, or perhaps I find it absurd because I don't want my son to be rejected or told he didn't make "that" team. As his mother my job is to protect and shield him from this world and I cannot do that in sports. I cannot ensure his team will always win, or help him dive to catch that ball (hell. who are we kidding, I would be more of a hindrance than a helper in this instance), I cannot protect him from the mean things other kids will say when he makes a mistake...I must relax my grip and change my mindset from "Hunter's shield" to "Hunter's biggest fan." My son is growing up and while it is definitely time I can't say that I am embracing this change with open arms. I'm not ready to t-ball. H is ready and his daddy is ready and luckily I still (for at least 1 more year) have Judah as my baby.
Now let's talk about baseball/t-ball parents. WOW. 1st of all...it has been a long time since I have seen so many moms wearing "gym" clothes outside of the gym. I do believe I was one of about 3 "working moms' who was present this evening...yes, I went to tryouts wearing my work clothes and my heals...but such is life and while I got some interesting looks from "those" moms (the one wearing track pants and the Rangers t shirt gave me quite the look when I walked onto the field) I stood proudly with my sons, even though I was incredibly uncomfortable. 95% of the moms that were present at the field tonight were very serious about their son's performances and appeared to be much more stressed out than the kids about which team they were going to be on. The dads were a whole different story...wow, they were serious. Let's just say this: I will not take sports too seriously, I will support my sons 100% but because I feel no need to live vicariously through them I think my focus will be able to remain on making sure they are having fun. So, to the dad who was making hand signs to his 5 year old...relax.
So, we shall see what team Hunter is placed on. He will not be drafted 1st, 2nd or probably even 3rd round this year. The coaches will not fight over #105, but my hope and prayer is that he will be placed on a team that will have a coach who sees his potential, who sees a smart little boy who wants to play baseball but just hasnt had the exposure some other kids have, a coach who says "yes, I want #105 Hunter James because I think he could be a great part of my team." I want Hunter to have a positive first season of t-ball and my desire is that he walks away in June feeling good about how his season went. I don't think my older son is the next Joe Mauer, but I've been proven wrong before :)
Wish me luck on this journey because while Hunter plays t-ball, I have to hang out with "those" moms.
