I am so far behind I thought about just not trying to catch up. Then decided I just need to SIT down and type. For all who read the news, it is very obvious I am way behind announcing that Tennessee had horrible flooding a week ago. So much loss! We, personally were fine, but my children did not have school all week. THAT is the reason of of "behindedness" :) A good reason to be behind! A positive as I look back over the week is my flowers! I am such a black thumb in gardening so I just have to tell you outright that God gave me some incredible flowers!! And of course I took pictures:)
Scott spent the week traveling so I was here for ballgames alone. I am not usually alone, but this season is my most challenging ...perhaps ever. Thursday night rolled around and I realized I had FOUR games at the same time (well one was 15 minutes earlier than the others). Seth at 7:30, My trio (Michael Daniel and Ryan) at 7:45, Lita at 7:45 and Victoria at 7:45.
In the past I've had big helpers. This year not so much. Jacob and John work and usually are not able to help at all on Thursday nights. Sarah is a great helper, but she and Paden have began helping a special education (I am likely terribly politically incorrect in my names...I do apologize!) baseball team. I told Sarah we had plenty of "special" kids at out house she could help with....but they opted to "do something good" and they did. I am not knocking the "do something goodness" of it all...it's a good thing. But I sat and literally cried Thursday night trying to think of how I would be where I needed to be. Then I quit feeling sorry for myself and began calling friends. It's really true that children are just children, but friends are incredible!! Friends help out because they love me....it is a really cool thing. I called two sweet teenagers, actually both are graduating this month:) Mary Margaret (who my children LOVE) went to Tori's game and brought Tori home to me afterwards. Tatia (Joseph's sweet girlfriend) went to Lita's very first game (along with Mercedez and Tasha) and brought all three girls home afterwards. My sweet friend Gina and her son Korey (one of Seth's best buddies!)went to Seth's game. Korey passed extreme airhead candy through the fence to Seth (I am not sure he will want mom at anymore games...lol). I sat with Micheal, Daniel and Ryan's game. Scott was helping find me helpers and overbooked the trio game:) He called Celina back and told her we were fine, thanking her. That sweet Celina came and sat with me at the game! I'm really blessed. All my children were so excited to have people they love watching them and none of them felt slighted....and the momma in me had someone watching every child (you know mommas worry about the "what ifs"!).
I really miss having all my big kids at home. It was not a strain or hassle for them to collectively help out. But, with so few biggies and so many littles playing...it's bad (lol...or very very good!). I have to pray big time for the next 4 weeks....they promise to be ball playing crazy!
I drove over Friday night to Selmer with everyone (meaning my 10 little Indians). Victoria had a 6pm game and Lita and Bella (who finally earned the privilege of playing) had a 6pm game on back to back fields. A small reprieve. I sat at Victoria's game for 3 innings and moved to Lita and Bella's field. Boys sat with me and my three big girls sat on the opposite fields so someone was watching all the games:)
I love sports, I love ball, perhaps the toughest part is that I cannot sit at all the games. I really could sit or stand taking pictures in the sunshine ALL DAY LONG! I love this sport! That said, I do not always enjoy listening to some of the coaches, I do not enjoy listening to some of the parents... I do have a different "take" on ball than many. I think it's a game. It's not something that my love of my child hinges on. It is not something that causes me to scream at my children or humiliate them(or embarrass myself). It is not something to cry over or whine about. IT IS A GAME! It is a game you should ENJOY, or you just should not play. I sat near a parent who was paying her child for every single strike she threw. At one point the mom laughed and looked over at me saying "I'm not gonna to have enough money to pay her". I smiled and said, "Quit paying her." Obviously that was not an option. But the endless keeping "count' of money wore me out. IT'S A GAME. A game I love. But ya know, these are 10 year olds, not pro ball players.
When we got home I had everyone sit down for a family meeting. I had several "erky" things occur over the evening and my Indians needed to understand my feelings. I was glad Scott was home to be with us for my "ball field rules and frustrations":
1. In a moment I shall forever remember and appreciate my Rosie came through with a perfect answer to my set up! I asked Rosie, "Rosie, I know you like to read." She nodded (it's kinda a DUH mom thing). I then said, "If I gave you a dollar a book would you read more?" Rosie looked at me crazy, "NO" she replied. I asked "why not?" You know it's because money has nothing to do with doing what she loves! She will read anyway. It's about love of reading. Sports, to me (and call me crazy), is about LOVE of sports! Once you don't love it anymore...stop. It's that simple. Apparently this strike throwers grandfather pays her too. I asked the kids how they would feel if they did their best and never threw a strike? How would you feel if your grandfather only rewarded you for the one thing you tried your hardest for but didn't accomplish? It is a terrible thing. Again...this is terrible to me(you may have your own opinion). But I love my children unconditionally, and I praise them for their good efforts...ALWAYS....but I do that with my words.
2. I told the kids that I had them sit with me at games for two reasons. The first is that we are there to watch a sister or brother play ball. It is our job to encourage and to be there for the moments. That's what family does! And the old excuse"but my poor 7 year old has to sit at way too many of her brother games" doesn't cut it with me....my kids have sat at more ballgames than any kids I know. But each game is special to that player and each child has something they do or will do that is equally "watchable", The second is safety. I cannot watch a game and not know where my children are. Many parents sit down at a game, hand their kids money and seemingly "wish them away" so they can watch the game. It never fails that a mother and father "loose" a child every single season, they have that panicked fall apart throw-up feeling as they desperately search for a child they have not seen in 30 minutes(or more). I do not choose to be that parent. I do not choose to allow my child to be hurt. So they sit with mom and go to the bathroom in pairs...It has always been such with me. But, My younger children needed to understand "why" I have my rules.
3. I talked to the kids about understanding the above rules and being able to verbalize them to others. Twice Friday night I answered questions directed at my boys that they did not answer. One kid wanting to wrestle (and I watched long enough to see it was not going to be resolved so I resolved it). The second was an insistent come play kickball with us plea that they boys did not answer and again I did. I explained to my kids, who really ought to know it by now, that I will NEVER EVER EVER be so embarrassed that I would not say no. I don't care who is doing something wrong, if my child will not say 'I can't do that" or "I'm here to watch______ play" then I have no problem saying that for them. None.
I do get frustrated at things ....I suppose we all do. But, really truly, to me, life is sometimes made really hard for absolutely no reason at all. I am crazy enough as it is, I really am not going to opt in the hard way to do things. SO family meetings sure do have their times and places to ensure an easier ride:)
