I know how difficult it is to keep a 3-year-old entertained and I can even manage to handle a couple of them at a time occasionally, but multiply that by 10 or so and you have what my father used to describe as "Farts in a mitten." I don't know if he made that up or if its some kind of cliché he read somewhere but the description is right on the mark.
This week Miles began his career in baseball...T-ball to be exact. I had the distinct pleasure of being at his first practice trying to contain myself as these brave coaches began their yearly ritual of instruction. We knew that Miles was athletic and coordinated because he has been playing ball since he could walk but teaching him how to be a team player is not quite the same as playing one-on-one. He is learning all about sharing in and out of preschool and he's been taught that "everyone gets a turn" but trying to help him comprehend it is another matter.
The coaches sat the kids down to explain the rules and most of them seemed to be listening. They were split into two groups to practice batting and catching. As the coach worked with one player the other four or five waited their turn trying to balance the batting helmets on their little heads. Some of them were kicking dirt while others sat down to pick through the stones. Kids began to chase each other ... run over to their parents...get a drink...go potty...tell a story...pick a flower...do anything but pay attention. It doesn't take much of a distraction (butterfly, bee, bird, squirrel) to get them off base, so to speak.
The coaches (and parents) continuously redirected the players with statements like "you have to wait your turn", and "now watch what I'm doing and then you try it." Some of them threw the ball with great vigor but had no real target area. One player was designated to catch the ball but all of them took off after it ... can't have too many backups I guess. There were a few tears followed by "she won't throw the ball to me" or "he hit me in the head," but by and large the team was pretty well behaved.
Pretty soon we'll be sitting in the stands cheering them all on wondering if or when they will ever get it...trying to keep the laughter down as we are thoroughly entertained by their innocence and soothing their broken bodies and spirits when they get hurt. We will all want them to have fun and enjoy the world of athletics minus the competitive edge that will come along all too soon.
Looking back, I must admit that some of my fondest memories were made on the ball fields. It's not always easy sitting in the stands until sundown after a hard day at work, especially when its cold or windy, but its worth it. Trying to help your child deal with defeat or failure is sometimes a challenge but usually a teaching moment. I can't think of a better place where you can go to be entertained so cheaply while escaping the stress of every day life. Someday all those little "farts in a mitten" will be running around this world competing for their lives and we will look back and appreciate what a gas it all really was (pun intended).
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