Baseball Widow

Baseball Consumes The Sports Widow's Schedule

April 11, 2008 9:39 AM | 0 Comments

As if the onset of the Major League Baseball season weren't enough, Little League Baseball is beginning to assert itself on our family schedule, beginning with the triumphant return of The Boa Constrictors, my nickname for my 10-year-old son Austin's baseball team. (Since I used to be the PR Director at Woodland Park Zoo here in Seattle, I just love the idea of an American baseball team named after a non-indigenous species.

It's positively revolutionary. And, you have to admit that boa constrictors ARE powerful predators that swallow their prey whole, so this team name would automatically add cache and inspire fear in opponents.)

The Search for Little League Baseball Survival Strategies
So the practices, the games, the email flurries from the coaches are all beginning, dragging with them a host of challenges for the Sports Widow. Through interviews with experts and fellow Little League parents and shared tips from Sports Widows like you, I plan to explore these throughout the season, which lasts until at minimum June. Let's help each other find solutions to some of these nagging issues.

Meal/Snack Planning
With games and practices on weeknights at awkard times like 5:30pm, this is really difficult for the average working parent. It's best to think ahead. Likewise, it helps to have healthy snacks and drinks on hand to avoid the temptation of loading up on candy and junk at the Snack Shack or Fast Food drive-thrus. What are some quick recipes? What are some healthy on-site snack/drink options?

Nan v. Wild - Bleacher Survival
I don't know about your situation, but the location for the Boa Constrictor's games has got to be one of the windiest, most frozen spots on earth, exacerbated by Seattle's frequent torrential downpours and granite-hard bleachers. I like to think you don't have to be Bear Grylls to survive in these elements. How can you prepare for Mother Nature's whims and the standard Little League Ball park situation?

Sibling Torment
While we're watching games, 8-year-old Caroline and 13-year-old Kit frequently get bored and, yes, shocking as it may seem, WHINE. How can you reduce the whine-factor with recalcitrant siblings? What can you bring/do to keep them entertained when their attention spans wane?

Competitive Parents
Gone are the days when a Little Leaguer's capacity simply to make contact with the ball prompted giddy cheers of appreciation and encouragement from parents. This year, some parents are going for blood with their high expectations, extreme competitiveness and desire to relive childhood glory days or vindicate themselves for past failures. Kids can experience a lot of pressure from parents. And, sometimes they show no mercy toward other underperforming kids, which really bothers me since I didn't grow up playing sports. How do you deal with this?

Game Etiquette
The rowdy spectator, the bad umpire (I wouldn't know the difference), the unfair coach, ignorance about the rules of the game. These are all factors. How should you deal with them?

Grooming the Young Athlete
What I like about sports is the discipline and the camaraderie. What I don't like is that there are always losers, and sometimes the losing team is the one your child is playing on, and sometimes your child's performance was directly related to the loss. How do you encourage your child, how do you make lemons out of lemonade and help use the tough experiences to build up v. tear down character and self-esteem?

Snack Shack Shifts
Don't get me wrong about the Snack Shack and my accusatory statement about its offerings. There are some healthy choices here and the proceeds go to the Little League. The Snack Shack is run by volunteers, and it's harder than it looks, especially operating the hotdog rotisserie, which I liken to a duck-shooting game at the county fair.

I look forward to delving into these challenges, and would love to hear your personal tips from the front. In the meantime, Let's Play Ball!

The Sports Widow
(aka Nan Hall)