Stinking baseball............

[Hooligan]

I have shared with you how much I have really enjoyed my journey learning to play guitar. I really look froward to playing with the P&W team on Tuesdays. Well, I also have three kids and as of two days ago all three od them on baseball teams. last Tuesday I am looking forward to playing and my wife informs me those days are over. I look at the three schedules and sure enough there is no way I can justify playing and making my wife struggle with all the kids on Tuesdays. So for the next 6 weeks I'll be cheering the kid son, practising at home and looking forward to the day when I can get back to playing.

I will tell you I was pretty upset when I figured out I was not going to be able to play. After a time I began to realize how selfish I was behaving and how much more important it was to encourage the kids and support the wife.

[MikeW]

I'm sure God will bless you as you take care of your position as a Dad.

Squeeze in some practice time and when you return to playing in the band you won't take long to be up to speed.

Years later your kids will remember you sacrifice to encourage them and say,
:cheer: :udaman: :cheer:

[OrovilleTim]

That's not bad as 6 weeks is a very small season compared to the average youth sport season! Keep practicing though... time will fly!

I'll offer our personal story of how bad our family sports madness got and a tough decision we felt we had to make...

We were majorly sported out. It got to be where we were so busy with practices that our family time was suffering. Meaning, 1/2 of our Saturday was at games, multiple nights a week were dinners on the run to get off to practices, and our normal time of year that had many family adventures as the kids were younger (hikes, going to Grandma & Grandpa's house, etc.) had all but vanished.

When one thing ended, the next began. There was baseball, soccer, basketball. But, this business was like Mom & Dad's taxi, then Mom & Dad camping on the sideline (we stayed for practices, and made all games.) We did at least coach basketball as that was a christian league (Upward) so we could interact. There was also the issue of homework, and the stress it put on the family to try and accomplish it around a sports schedule with very little time.

So, we stopped and took a hard look at things. We realized that this is the time where kids happily spend time with their family, and we didn't want to miss it by being too busy or just watching from the sidelines. So, we kept scholastic chess, but we've stopped all sports, with the exception of the christian basketball league which occurs during the winter . When the kids get in Jr. High, and High School, we'll encourage afterschool sports as there is an academic tie-in.

We now have semi-clear weeks for the time being, a summer that we can plan a few camping trips (always a close time as a family), and we got the kids more into church activities, including a weekly club that occurs on Wednesday. We are also trying to implement a semi-weekly dinner where we invite another family with kids from church over (a big step for me as I was always very anti-social and territorial.)

A lot of people are shocked as now days it seems that youth sports are a given and such a part of the culture of family (soccer is the BIG one out here in CA.) But, I must admit, when we made this decision, it really was a weight we were glad to let go of.

One thing what we're also finding, is now that some of those times are free, we're also seeing some opportunites to serve and fellowship that we wouldn't have been able to take advantage of with our hectic schedule.

[Paulcc1]

Before you know it baseball will be over and the kids will have graduated college, and you will have plenty of time to play.
Paul

[Ravindave_3600]

Hooligan, I respect your servant heart. A father's job is to raise the best-possible kids, and that means spending time with them.

Tim, your decision is... WOW! What a great choice! One of my big rants is always against parents who let their families be so over-scheduled they don't have time to be families. Mucho props to you.

[Jaybo]

That's a good point Dave. Busy doesn't always equal quality or good.

Though, there is a point to avoiding "idle hands".

Being a sports family can be tough. My brother and I were sportsaholics, and it involved ALOT of driving for our parents. It emerged pretty early that my bro had more talent then most, and he eventually went on to become a pro hockey player (like a good Canadian boy should). But there were things sacrificed that would have benefitted him alot more than being rewarded for talent, and having a sports focus.

[OrovilleTim]

Tim, your decision is... WOW! What a great choice! One of my big rants is always against parents who let their families be so over-scheduled they don't have time to be families. Mucho props to you.

Thanks, but I have to give some of the credit to an article in the Feb 2005 HomeLife magazine titled "Live with less and have more". While it was really slanted towards finances more than anything, there was something that struck me in a little sidebar. It says "Fewer commitments outside the home mean more time with the people you love". Now it took me a couple of years of reading it over and over in the, uhh, "reading room", but it eventually stuck. It also makes it easier when your kids don't exhibit spectacular athletic skills though. :D

[Old Believer]

I've had the same deal. Fortunately I only have one eight year old son. He love baseball, and he loves having me at games. I am going to graduate school at night (which I cannot miss) and I teach a bible study on Tuesdays.

When games fall on Tuedays, we have our friends open up the house and begin with prayer, as soon as the game is over, I jet home and we get the fellowship rolling.

The time with Caleb is so important. I still remember when he first came home like it was yesterday. They grow up so fast, I don't want to miss any of it. :D

[MikeW]

Read,don't sing, the lyrics to "Cats in the Cradle".

It will make you stop and think about what's important in life.

[Old Believer]

Read,don't sing, the lyrics to "Cats in the Cradle".

It will make you stop and think about what's important in life.
:yeah:

I actually like that song

[MikeW]

I do too.

Ricky Scaggs did a cover a couple of years ago. It is a great song.