Odds and Ends

First, Thanks to all who helped me to regain the merriment in my life. I enjoyed the laughter, smirks, chuckles, etc. that your jokes and funny stories brought to me!

Now, that being said, I must get a few things off of my chest. I really am glad that I still blog, it gives me a forum, it gives me a "place."

This weekend, Danny's team finshed their summer season, WHEW! They took the championship and will be getting trophies soon, a tall shiny one! Congrats Riptide! We also found out via email from a parent that her son won't be playing with us anymore. She became a grumbler last year, snipping and rumbling about anything and everything that she could possibly talk about. We didn't do so many away tournaments to accomidate her point of view, she had one child involved in activities, her older one is more oriented to sitting in front of the TV or playing Video games. It is difficult to believe, to me, a parent of three active children that between herself, her husband and her Dad that getting one child to activities is a major issue.

I really liked this woman and her sons. The boy is a true coaches' dream, he listens, tries to put into practice what is said to him and just is a fun kid in general. The manager of the team also chipped in to help with providing rides to places when she was working or when her husband or father couldn't help. (Note, hubby is step dad, not father of child) In fact, the manager even took the kid to tournaments without the mom until she could get there if at all. No one judged her situation, no one even said a word. We all accepted the fact that this was the way it would be, and took the kid under our collective wing as we have done with all of our kids on this team. It was never questioned as to when or how the kid would show up, we all knew that he would. My boys, both have slept over the house and "hung" out with both of this woman's children. Recently, my older son as mentioned played travel ball and in house ball and is now getting ready for football, so it was inconvenient for him to "hang" with the older boy. I really can't say that there was any animosity toward the boy, just that Patrick has been ridiculously busy at times, and at other times occupied with friends. I know it isn't cool to hang out at your little brother's baseball games, and at 14 he doesn't always want to do so. I am saddened that this young man isn't going to play with Danny anymore.

I just wish that the explaination was a little less curt, a little more personal, and I really feel that she is making a grevious error in jumping to another team at this time. The other team is a good one, and is going to be contenders, but right now, are far below her son's level of playing. She also is seeing that the grass is greener at another team, but things change rapidly on that team, and she will not be happy there either. They travel more, cost more and don't hesitate to bench kids for ringers(kids who have been brought aboard for tournament ball to win at all costs.) we saw it happen at two recent local tournaments. I hope that it doesn't happen to this child who has never been sat on the bench, who hasn't missed a game except in the case of illness. It will break his spirit, I promis, I have been there with my older son, and that spirit will take a long time to come back.

OK, Ok, sorry that the soapbox came out, sorry that I just had to get this off of my chest. I must now put a disclaimer here: These are my opinions, these are my thoughts, these are not meant to harm, offend or hurt. THe words here aren't meant to slander or defame anyone. Note that the names of the parent and children and family are left out, purposely to make certain that there is no reprecussion if the parent reads this blog, which I really am not sure of, and that is why the disclaimer stands here.

The only names that are here are that of my children. End.
Thanks for listening.