Oh There is Crying in Softball!!!

Since I am so far behind I will go with the condensed version of events over the week broken down by days. I’m not sure how much longer I can continue and I am contemplating just going down to a weekly recap or as needed. I have enjoyed my writing over the past three years and especially as I served my sentence. Life is proceeding very well and there is that finite amount of time in each day. I do my very best to enjoy each and every day as it arrives and I am also doing my best to prioritize. Writing has taken a back seat to being with my family and with all the activities of the children and getting more involved I am better served to catch up on the writing during the weekends. The weekends are filled with family events and some unexpected very nice events (that is a preview for this weekend) so writing also takes a back seat. I am here a few days after these events have taken place but I do need to log those events because the last week has been very interesting to say the very least!!

Today being Tuesday brought my daughter’s softball game to the forefront. Yesterday my son had his practice and everything seemed to go very well and yes, all our days seemed to be filled with some type of activity for the children. I don’t know how people who have “real” 9 to 5 jobs (but then again does anyone have these types of jobs anymore?) get their children to and from their events. My job is very flexible and as long as I get the job I can determine my own schedule. This can have me working late in the evenings or early in the morning or on the weekends but it also allows me to be able to be with our children during their events. That is a big priority in my life because I know how temporary everything is and enjoying/savoring these moments means the world to me.

Yes, my daughter’s softball game commenced today and it was a rough one for my daughter. She has been improving all season and the once timid/uncertain softball player has emerged into someone who portrayed confidence. This confidence suffered a setback with today’s game. My daughter has expressed interest in pitching all season long and has become the team’s fourth pitcher. Over the season she has done very well especially compared to her teammates. However; today it was one of those very down days for my daughter. Her regular coach was not at the game for reasons that I won’t go into since it is very trite what happened and what lead to the suspension. Yes, even in 10 and under girls softball coaches get suspended for trivial reasons all because there is a person who exhibits negative energy.

Anyhow the regular coach was not at the game which marked the first time the assistant coach was in charge of the team. The assistant coach has a much difference philosophy than the head coach and my wife and I much rather prefer the head coach. I understand competition and the need to win but at what cost and having girls under the age of 10 who are just learning the game who doesn’t really understand the game of softball “win at all costs” is ridiculous. The girls were only interested in having fun and this is what the head coach had espoused all season so with the change of coaches came the change in philosophy. My daughter unfortunately got caught in between this change of philosophy during a very bad day for her.

My daughter started the second inning as the pitcher which was unusual because she has started the game for the head coach. The reason for this was the fact that in the first inning the opposing team is limited to four runs and with my daughter’s team ahead by 5 runs in the second inning the opposing team could get 9 runs before the inning had to end. This opened up a larger margin of error and my daughter had such a difficult time throwing strikes she had to be taken out during the inning. This was also a philosophy change from the head coach who does not believe in taking a player out during the inning because it just demoralizes the player. My daughter was demoralized and she was not angry with the assistant coach she was very angry with herself. She had to come out of the game because she was crying uncontrollable. My daughter takes things so hard and as she came out I went to her and did my best to console her but nothing I said could dissuade her tears. It was a very difficult game for her; however; I think it was a great learning experience. She finally calmed down after a few innings but she was allowed to stew on the bench not getting back into the game and getting back into the flow.

The game ended and her team had lost by one run with my daughter going 0 for 1 while walking once. I took the time to talk with her during and after the game. The best part came when we got home and decided to go to the pitching clinic that is offered every Tuesday evening. We had not taken part in this clinic all season long because it starts at 8:00 pm and with all the homework my daughter has getting there has been difficult. However; tonight was the perfect night and her spirits were lifted tremendously during this one hour session. I will write more tomorrow, thanks!!!