Just a Game

He's five, will be six in June.  The time had come to introduce SIP to a sport.  For some families I imagine this isn't such a big deal.  I've seen their kids at church, school, birthday parties...all doing what they're supposed to be doing even if they're not having the greatest time.  This is not SIP.  We drag him kicking and screaming to school programs, summer camp, vacation Bible school, Sunday school, birthday parties...Many of you reading this blog have witnessed SIP's propensity to refuse certain social situations and have helped him cross such thresholds and some of you have watched us take the great parental walk of shame...back to the parking lot into the car after giving up the battle. 

I'm drawing the line at sports.  This I will not let him refuse.  This battle I have to win.

So I dragged him kicking and screaming to baseball practice for the first time a few weeks ago.  It was horrible.  He refused to participate and sat by the back fence in the grass swatting at gnats and cursing my name.  He then took off his shoes and threw them over the fence.  He also took off his glove and threw it over the fence.  It wasn't long before the sand gnats got the best of him and he came looking for me.  He raised his little anxiety ridden face to mine and implored, "I'm really trying to find my manners."

"Then I will help you," I replied, "Now go get your things and we will do this together."

Every practice since then, SIP has done great and though he won't admit it yet, he seems to enjoy baseball.  In the face of our soft culture, it would have been fine for me to give up, perhaps encouraged for the sake of sparing SIP's feelings.  Clearly he's not interested in sports, many say, don't force him.  It's just a game...