The joy of parents

I've always said that the most challenging part of any volunteer project involving children is dealing with the parents. After our experience last night, I'm definitely ready for baseball season to come to an end!

Both JR & JC (and their respective parent/coaches...us!) had games last night. We were told Wednesday night that we needed to come to the concession stand before our games and pick up a make up schedule for rain outs. Both my wonderful husband and I were stunned to learn that we both had games scheduled for this evening. Uhm, 24 hours notice when dealing with leagues involving 10 year olds & under seems a bit extreme, don't you think? For my girls, we were only going to have five players so we got together with the opposing coach and rescheduled for a mutually agreeable time. The boys were a little more challenging. My husband (head coach) has tickets for the Reds game this evening, and is taking JR. The assistant coach was leaving immediately after their game last night for a baseball weekend in Chicago. Obviously, since he had a game to coach right then, there was not an opportunity to attempt to line up other coaches or even determine if they had enough kids to play. Instead of being able to watch my son's game after our girls' game ended, I was on a mission to make tonight work out. Finally, a parent who has helped with the team all season agreed to coach, I'll keep the book and the assistant coach's wife will also help base coach. I thought this was pretty generous considering a) my son won't actually be there to play and b) the assistant coach's wife had other plans that she was willing to cancel in order to help. We are going to be short kids, but we received permission to use some kids from teams who aren't playing tonight. They just have to play outfield and bat at the bottom of the order. My husband is amazingly calm and rational...traits which I have none of. He approached the president of the baseball board and explained that we had it worked out, but mentioned that he would really appreciate it if we could have more than 24 hours notice if there was going to be make up games. The board president immediately got defensive and my husband explained that he wasn't angry or upset, but really felt that communication would go a long way towards making things run more smoothly, and would help to make sure that no one got upset or angry in the future. It was a very civil discussion. However, another board parent has a son who is also playing for my husband. To be honest, the son is not very good. Trust me, I'm not a parent who thinks my children are the best on earth, because JR plays only two positions; catcher and outfield. He's been wanting to pitch and my husband has simply explained that isn't going to happen. My husband believes that every child should be placed where they have the best opportunity for success, and where they are the least likely to embarrass themselves. For some children, that means they only play the outfield. This board member's son is one of those, although because the dad is a board member my husband has been giving the son some opportunity to play third base. I was at a game last week where this youngster fielded a ball at third and literally stood there with his mouth open because he had no clue what to do with the ball. Now according to this board member, it is my husband's fault because he hasn't done a good enough job of teaching the kids how to play the positions. My husband just stood there and listened to board member dad and at the end stated that he appreciated the man's opinion, and that it seemed as though they had a different philosophy on coaching. I was so amazed at how well my husband handled the situation, and I know that I could not have been that calm in that situation.

Of course we discussed it over and over again last evening. We tried not to dwell on it, but it finally came down to this: normally, I recognize that there will always be one parent, no matter how things are handled, that doesn't appreciate the way things are handled. That's a given. What bothers me about this situation, is that this was a man that I respected as having some knowledge of baseball and how to handle things. He has coached his older two sons and is on the board of the league (as an aside, he has admitted that he hasn't worked much with son #3, and that this particular son doesn't even want to play ball, but they make him). Furthermore, because this man is on the board of the league, he has the power to prevent my husband from coaching next year if he feels like doing so. That is the part that really bothers me and aggravates me to no end. I take comfort in the fact that my husband has no regrets in the way he's coached the kids. Furthermore, and of the most importance to me, JR has had a very good experience playing this year. After all, that is the reason we agreed to coach this year...for our own kids, not for the whims of other parents.

Full house

There are seven children here today between the ages of 11 & 3. I can tell it's still early summer, because everyone is getting along nicely (oh dear, I've just jinxed myself, haven't I?). The closest I'm ever going to get to being an aunt is these four extra children who are here today, and I enjoy the fact that they feel totally at home here. My wonderful husband is off to get a filling, and this afternoon we are splitting up and taking the kids to a movie. I feel badly that we are going to spend the afternoon at a movie theater because it is gorgeous outside, but it still seemed like a nice treat for everyone. Looking forward to a pleasant day!

Summer fun

We've had two complete days of summer vacation so far. This is the first time in YEARS that we've actually had laid back days right after school was out. Tomorrow we'll have four extra guests all day, but the last two days it's been fairly uneventful in our house. We've enjoyed Monopoly games, late dinners, and even later wake ups. I know that we have lots to get done this summer, but so far we are having fun and relaxing!

Coming to an end

Tomorrow is the last day of school for the kids. I'm so excited about the beginning of summer, and so overwhelmed by all of our plans at the same time. I'm also feeling very bittersweet that tomorrow is the last day of Kindergarten in this house. I know time marches on, I'm just not sure that my wonderful husband and I are ready to march with it.

It was a very busy weekend in our house. Friday evening my dear friend and I went to an outdoor concert. It was nice to spend some time just the two of us...we usually only get to manage that about once a year even though she only lives about 30 minutes away. HT had a make up tball game, and then my husband and some good friends made their debut in the church softball league. Apparently, that was quite a riot and I'm sorry I missed it! Yesterday was an entire slate of ball games for the kids, and I'm so proud of my girls for getting another victory! As with everything that seems to happen lately, rain & lightening started during JR's game, but after a "mere" six hours at the ball park we finally made it home. Last evening, we had dinner plans with our assistant coaches and their family and were out very late. Today we slept in, and spent the afternoon at a graduation party before heading to church this evening. The kids are still feeling a little tired, but with only one last day of school I'm sure it will be fine.

And on a very happy note, the weather here has turned absolutely beautiful. It's been in the mid to upper 80's for the last two weeks, and this past week the humidity has been absolutely oppressive. But this morning we stepped out to get the newspaper and were greeted by weather barely reaching 70 with virtually no humidity. It just doesn't get any more gorgeous out than this!

Two more days!

We have just two more days until summer officially begins in our house. Today was actually supposed to be the last day, but thanks to the snow days we still have two more. I can't wait to start sleeping in. That to me is the best part of the summer. I'm also looking forward to playing games with the kids and reading books that we want to read, not just have to read. Right now as a family we are into "Little House on the Prairie" and with school being out we might even be able to read two chapters an evening! Things are definitely winding down in the classrooms. There was very little homework this week. There have been lots of walking field trips around town and today HT was served with a pizza party at school, and JC had an ice cream party this afternoon. Tomorrow JC has a poetry recital, and then HT has beach day in the afternoon. I'm not really sure what JR has been doing...I guess by the time they reach his age they don't need as much parent help in the classroom. We are all enjoying things though!

Late night at the ballpark

I have been able to see only a very little bit of JR's baseball games this season. Every evening he's had a game, either I've been coaching JC in a game of her own, or I've been at HT's game. We usually catch no more than an hour of JR's game, because staying out late isn't an option with JC's behavior. Last night though, with school ending soon, I decided we'd go ahead and stay. It was a fun game with our team winning big, but it didn't end until after 8:30, and by the time we cleaned up and got home it was nearly 9:00. I allowed the younger two to wait for baths until this morning, but everyone is dragging a bit this morning. I'm so very much hoping that JC can hold it together in school today and I don't end up regretting my decision. I just wanted to watch my son play his game. Tonight both HT and JR are supposed to have games again, but there are storms moving in as I write. We'll just have to see what the day brings!

Memorial Day weekend recap

We had an absolutely wonderful weekend. With so little school left for the year, I pretty much feel as though I'm in coasting mode when it comes to school. Based on the numerous activities that are scheduled for the kids this week, it doesn't sound as though there is going to be much homework coming home, and that is perfectly fine with me!

Saturday we had a large group photo appointment scheduled with two other families. One of these families is moving hundreds of miles away next week, and this was our last opportunity to get together. We had lots and lots of pictures taken, and I think they turned out wonderfully. We then had a cook out that lasted well into the night. Wonderful, wonderful memories. Sunday morning was brunch with my mom's family and then we headed straight up to Dad's place at the lake. It's been so unbelievably hot here lately, and Sunday was no exception. I felt like we didn't really do much, but Dad just enjoys having us there no matter what. We watched the Indy 500, and while I don't really follow auto racing, I enjoyed watching that with my dad. For years when I was child, Dad, my sister and I would be coming back from my grandparents' place in Coldwater, MI on Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, and we would listen to the race as we were driving home. For a few minutes on Sunday, I felt like a little girl with my dad again. It was almost dark by the time we headed home Sunday night, and yesterday was another cook out. Still very hot, so we didn't stay terribly long.

Today, I feel absolutely wiped out. I know that I should find a way to be productive, but it just doesn't seem to be happening. I just got back from school because today was "have lunch with the fourth grader" day. JC and JR (and us coaches) have games this evening, and right now I'm just lacking motivation between activities. Maybe tomorrow!