It was the 52nd inning, or what felt like it, and it was Matt’s turn out on the field and Jonathen’s turn to kick. A friendly game of kickball, parents versus kids.
Jonathen walked into the dugout with his teamates and proudly announced, I am at the back, and I had to giggle when two other boys were fighitng for the chance to be the last to kick too.
I remember what that felt like. Wanting to be last to ensure your chances to kick were slim to none.
Seeing Jonathen with his peers, some so full of game they could burst and others fighting to be in the back got me to thinking.
Okay, there was one other element. This Mom that was there. She was standing nearby and yelling at every play as her hands clapped so hard I was sure they would fall off. She was so invested in this game that I just couldn’t relate to one ounce of her.
To me it was about a fun experience between parents and kids to celebrate the end of the year. Watching my fellow teamate and I would have thought it was the state championship and there was money on the line. I just could not wrap my head around it.
So back to the field, Matt had been voluntold to play for the parents, what, I had accidentally wore flip flops and couldnt play! So Matt is on the field and catches the ball and throws it back to the pitcher as fast as his hands could touch it. When he luckily was standing next to our new friend. She, never meeting Matt before, yells, WAY TO GO, PLAY WAS AT SECOND, GET YOUR HEAD IN THE GAME. To a stranger, at an end of the year parents vs 11 year old kids kickball game.
Still shaking my head as I write but this is what I learned. Parenting your child is about understanding not only their strengths and weaknesses but their peers as well. It is about being open to the whole picture. Not only for now but later on too. You see, these kids in the dugout, they will be his peers for more than just this game, this is who he is going out in the world with, in just a few years. Those boys that want to go last. They can rattle off every single fact on Ancient Greece. There is room in this world for brain strength. The others, there is room for them too. We need every player on the team in order to create a balanced world.
I wish there was a way to explain that to both sides, and everyone in between. To help them see why being so different is so perfect. That the weight of one is not more important than what the other can contribute. Think of the years of angst we could take away from childhood.
I think it starts with the parents. Someone may want to share that with my new friend who was later heard bragging about the game to another parent, “we CRUSHED them”. Oh, I guess we won! If someone would like to be the one to share my insight with her, go ahead, I will be at the back.
