Little league baseball. If you have been around it long enough, you see a lot of things, hear a lot of things, learn a lot of things, and meet lots and lots of different people. Some of these people become your children’s best friends and maybe even yours.
In the seven years my son has been playing little league, I have experienced the above things. I have made some great friends in the process too. Friendships that are valuable to not only myself, but to my children as well. Even to the child who does not yet play baseball.
I love to cheer on my child, our friend’s child, and even those who my husband has had the pleasure of coaching in the past. Win or lose, these kids are ‘our kids’ and teaching them to not only play the game we love, but to love the game we play is something we enjoy. These children learn more than just a game: They learn teamwork, rules, relationships, sportsmanship and more.
But what happens when some people do not like what you do, or what they think you do, or how you do it?
I have witnessed and been a part of this more times than I should, considering we’re dealing with children and little league baseball. I am there to watch my child have fun and play a game he loves. I should not have to worry about anyone else, right?! Well, that is wrong apparently. You see, some moms take the game way too seriously. And not only that, if they do not like the way you do something or say something, etc., all bets are off and you can no longer enjoy being there watching your child play.
Some moms and baseball go together like mean girls in high school.
You know, the ones who are mean to those who are not just like them. And because they are not like them, or do not like what they stand for, or who they hang with, or how they talk, they just start running their mouth about them spewing hate and gossip like no tomorrow. Sad to say, this happens in little league baseball and I just do not understand why.
I know not everyone will get along and be best friends, but is there not a line in baseball where people just need to keep their thoughts and opinions to themselves? Or at least just to their spouse, behind a closed door. Bad-mouthing people and name calling where others can hear you is not a good move for anyone at any time, especially when there are kids and parents around who will hear you. And why even do it? What is it going to prove? Or solve? Simple answer: It WILL NOT DO anything. Doing this will only make things worse and tempers flare if and when someone finds out.
I go to my son’s baseball games to cheer him on, help my husband (who is a coach), be supportive, and just be there. As a mom. As a wife. As a spectator at a child’s little league game where they go to have fun. I should not, nor should anyone, be subjected to backbiting, ridicule, or worse. And trust me, tempers do flare in little league. I have seen it firsthand. In just our third year of baseball, I witnessed an argument on the field that turned into a brawl after the game, where people were jailed and banned from the fields.
In addition, parents, under no circumstances, need to bad-mouth another parent or a child in front of their child! I too have been witness to this and been a part of something like this. Not only does it make it uncomfortable for the parents to be around the other parents, but it makes it even worse for the children. You see, children WILL repeat what their parents say, whether it is about the other child’s parents or the child themselves. What good does that do? What does that teach your child? Simple answer again: NOTHING!! Nothing good comes from any of that.
So, when it comes to baseball, I am there to support and cheer on ALL the children. Even those who I KNOW do not like my husband or myself. Why?! Because it is a game, it is MY child, and they do not need to worry about any adult drama that mommas and daddies can create before, during, or after the games. NO MATTER what, I do my honest best to be nice and cordial to EVERYONE. The golden rule is one that I teach my children and one that I try to follow myself, even on the diamond, as drama filled as it may be.
Sportsmanship needs to be taught and carried out not only by our children on the diamond, but also by the parents who are there to support their kids doing the thing they love — playing ball.
