like a mother at a softball tournament. Yesterday we spent all day (left at 7:15 am, pulled into the drive way at 11:20pm) in North Richland Hills at Kaylee's softball tournament. The hardest part of these things is just the prep work it takes to get 4 kids ready to spend all day outside at a ball park. We need Kassidy stuff: stroller, pack -n- play, bottles, diapers, extra clothes, baby food, spoons, bibs, wipes. We need Todd stuff: LEGOs, extra clothes. We need Kamryn stuff: sippy cup, extra clothes, pull up (just in case), play dough, toys, shock collar in case she tries to run off (just kidding... but if you've ever lost a 3 year old even for a minute, you know how tempting it would be to have one). We need Kaylee stuff: 3 jerseys; 2 shorts; 2 pair of socks; bat bag with helmet, glove, bat; crocs; and various hair accessories to ensure that she is "cute." Then there's everything else: cooler with water and gatorade; sandwiches; fruit; various boxes of crackers; sunscreen; the all important lawn chairs. I'm sure I'm leaving things out but you get the idea.
When we get to our destination, our team sets up camp. We have a big tent to provide shade and a place to snack in between games. It's fun because you get to know the parents of the kids on your team and hear stories about what goes on in their families. It makes you realize that your kids aren't as bad as you thought ;). We all (even brothers & sisters) have team shirts and some of us even made necklaces with our kid's number on them( think: over the top). We walk up to the game field together ( think: intimidation) and get ready to watch our little superstars... because there has never been better softball players on the planet than our little angels (think: sarcasm).
My favorite part is game time. Surprised? I love watching my daughter do something she loves and is really good at. Yesterday she caught 3 pop flies, was involved in 3 double plays, ( 1 of those single- handedly),and got on base 7 of 10 times at the plate. All of the effort involved is totally worth it to see the smile on her face when she comes off the field between innings after she has performed really well. In one of her games yesterday, she came off the field after being responsible for 2 of the 3 outs in that inning. She was the first batter up and her coaches were telling her to get her bat out and helmet on. I'm glad there's not "delay of game" penalties in girls softball because she couldn't stop hugging her Poppy, who was at the duggout gate telling her how awesome she was.
And then there's the parents... Lord have mercy on the poor soul who needs money so bad they officiate a softball tournament. Because if you're officiating because it's fun, then you must have some weird addiction to verbal abuse. Not to mention a high tolerance to heat stroke. I wouldn't want to stand on a dirt field all day in long pants, shirt, and pads. And while we did bear the brunt of some terrible calls, I was a little amazed to hear a parent say, "If it wasn't for those officials we would have won the tournament!" That is quite a stretch. In my last post I ended with a quote from Abe Lincoln. This one will end with a quote from another great man, Tony Romo. Well, he'll be a great man if he leads my Cowboys to a Super Bowl victory. Anyway, I realize that professional football is not exactly 9 year old girls softball, but it's still something worth remembering non-the-less. "If the worst thing that happens to me is sports-related, then I've lived a pretty good life."
