Thursday, May 15, 2008

T-Ball Drama


Last night's t-ball game did not go so well. Let's just say Jake had a short game, due to a really bad attitude. I knew it was not going to go well before we even headed over- we had just finished up Kindergarten Round-Up (actually had to leave early, and he didn't get to do many of the activities due to his game), so he was just really not wanting to go. But, I talked to him about responsibility, and not missing games because if they don't have enough players they can't play, etc., which really all went in one ear and out the other, because he *is* only 5. He also, yet again, got passed over for the 'pitchers position' (which in t-ball, they don't pitch, but they get to touch the ball more than the other players, and Jake gets bored just standing around in the field), so long story short- he was CRANKY. Throwing his mit in the dirt, on the verge of tears- too tired.

We had a volunteer mom helping to get the kids lined up to bat, and I guess she and Jake had an altercation, in which my son informed her that "you are not the boss of me, I'm the boss of myself". Needless to say, this did not go over well, so I was called in. I pulled him to the side and told him that this was unacceptable behavior, and that we need to treat grownups with respect, blah blah blah. He agreed that he should apologize, so he walked up to the woman and apologized, somewhat begrudginly, and then a second time with sincerity, and the woman did not seem appeased. She kind of just blew his apology off, which really bothered me- he's FIVE. She immediately wanted to know what she should do next time he 'acts up'. They obviously were just not going to get along with one another.

So- long story short, I told her if he did something else I would come over and take him home. Not even 10 minutes later he and another boy were hitting each other, and she called me over to take him home. Huge drama- tears, tears, and more tears, but I dragged him out of the dugout (holding Trey by the other hand). I noticed that his Yankees hat was missing so I asked the woman if she had seen his hat, or would mind looking behind where she was standing, and she gave me the rudest, snippiest response. Now I see why Jake didn't care for her (not that I'm excusing his actions, but she was really somewhat abrasive, and all I was doing was trying to remove the problem child).

And so (sorry for the long story) we left, hatless, in tears, with our dignity left in the dugout.........Fun! Maybe it *is* o.k. to quit, just once.

1 comment:

leah said...

I can't believe this woman didn't have a little bit of sympathy for an obviously tired 5 year old! Sheesh. Kids have bad days (don't we all?) and a little empathy would have gone a lot further than being snippy!