America's Favorite Past Time: Baseball...It seems as though it would be un-American for your little boy of six to declare that he is 'done with baseball,' but that is what he did this past summer. I didn't know what to think..."You don't want to play baseball anymore?" "NO" was his response. I'll be honest...I wasn't exactly surprised. Alex's heart just never seemed in it. He loved to come to the plate to whack at the ball, but playing the outfield was just a form of hatred. Alex usually just stared at his feet, kicked the dirt, expected all balls to be hit directly towards him, and seemed surprised when they sailed by three feet to his left. Still, I felt that this lack of love for baseball may have been seeded in the fact that this has indeed been a rough summer. I didn't even want to sit as an observer during practices and games in the excessive heat and humidity...How could I expect for Alex to actually enjoy himself at practice and the games? Especially, in those terrible polyester baseball pants...
Nonetheless, I was a little heartbroken...It just seems as though he should not only play baseball, but he should also love it as well. I appreciate his love of soccer and I can see that he really enjoys himself and is very good at it. I told him that we would wait to see how he felt this coming Spring, but if he didn't want to play baseball, that would be fine. I would just want him to replace it with other outdoor activities. I am a firm believer in trying to listen to your children and taking stock in what they have to say, even if it isn't exactly what you want to hear.
Fast forward to two weeks ago...Alex hated baseball at the end of July, but suddenly has found a new found love of the sport. This is in part thanks to our neighbor, Dan (Dan the Man) and his unofficial sandlot that has sprouted in his front yard. The weather has been hot and the Weather Channel declares us to be in a mild drought...The grass is scorched, frisbee golf discs serve as the bases, and Daddy covers the outfield (unless I perch in left field in a lawn chair) while Dan pitches to all the kids in the neighborhood. All the kids...perhaps an exaggeration...but, in all seriousness, the interest keeps growing and more and more children show up each day the impromptu game arises. The kids have nicknames...Little Stinky, Shashenko, Benny the Jet, Al Steve, on and on. And, there is a need for a little rough sign to go above Dan's garage declaring it the 'Sandlot' and making it official.
Despite all of this, in just a matter of weeks, Alex has found a new love for baseball. In fact, he actually now annoys me with his incessant requests to go outside and play baseball with Owen. But, I won't complain! There is new found hope in Alex's love for baseball and maybe, just maybe, he will give it another try for next year!
