God bless t-ball coaches. They have hearts of gold and the patience of saints. This became very apparent to me as a spectator during t-ball practice over the last couple weeks.
My grandson, Brahm is a Cardinal and loves playing t-ball. He is a great slider; He slides to every base; whether he needs to or not. He slides when he goes for a grounder. He even slides in the outfield when it’s been a little too long between grounders. Sliding is a skill he works hard to perfect.
The funny thing is that most of the Cardinals and players on the other t-ball teams are a lot like Brahm. An hour and a half of playing baseball is a very long time for most four and five year olds. All those rules, procedures and tasks of hitting, running bases, chasing after grounders, and throwing need to be supplemented with a few child derived activities.
For example, rolling around or even just lying on the ground is pretty universal among outfielders; as is wrestling or just plain spacing out. If one is in the dugout, waiting for a turn to bat, stuffing grass down your pants or playing knock, knock on a batter’s helmet helps to pass the time. Infielders work on tripping opponents as they run the bases and crashing into each other whenever they go after a hit ball. These are all commonly practiced skills being perfected by the players. Brahm has mastered them all, but sliding is his favorite.
After a few weeks of watching these little darlings scamper around the field, one truth became obvious. Coaching t-ball is a lot like herding kitten. The good ones string the players along, so the kids have fun and even manage to learn a little bit about how to play ball. They do all of this as volunteers and usually because no else in their right mind would do it. There has to be a special place in heaven for them; A place where they can polish their hearts of gold.
Life is short. Too many times dreams just fade away because we become too comfortable, or fearful the unknown, or lack the fortitude to make it happen? I've been there. This blog is the journal of my ongoing Alaskan adventures.
Friday, July 5, 2013
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Precious Moments
- The giggling of toddlers when it's suppose to be naptime
- Watching my baby cuddle her baby
- Feeling a hug so tight from little arms that hate to see you go.
- A tabu belly laugh over Auden's dramatic reaction to well deserved disciplined. (My inability to contain myself leads to a self-imposed timeout to the pantry.)
- Watching a two year old kiss a salmon.
- Being privy to Auden's first casting practice aided by Buzz, the kitty.
- The prideful sharing of going "poopie in the pottie".
- A great meal of Bison preparded together.
- Listening to the China Poot survival story as told by survivors Rick and Sarah.
- Sitting on a rock on the shore of the Kachemak Bay watching the ebb and flow of the ocean.
- Catching of glimpse of tender moments between Sarah and Jesse.
More Precious Moments
- Getting busted by a two year old
- Watchiing a child's refine the art of walking
- Partaking in a child's first pony ride
- Getting a rebuilt computer from Ebay for $234
- Taking a mud bath plunge without dumping the toddler
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