Big Papi, Whac-A-Mole & Life.

On this very special day, with great anticipation for the positive outcome of the World Sox 2013 (yes, I meant to say that) …I will enrich my post with quotes from a wise coach.

Baseball, like daily life, is an emotional sport. Sometimes we swing and miss. Sometimes we don’t get picked for the team.  And sometimes we lose the game.    

Disappointment happens to all of us.  I know.  I am still learning how to handle it gracefully.  But it sneaks up on me in different shapes & colors & textures…and today I felt an invisible mallet bonk my head and I started to feel like a mole in a hole.  Ouch!   

And while I continue learning my life lessons, my husband and I are working together to help our 5-year old deal with disappointment too.  And let’s not forget frustration & fear, and failure & sadness.  All mixed up into one unavoidable emotional concoction.

“That's part of the game, ... Sometimes that stuff happens.” - Bill Belichick

In our home, this is what we say to our child:  You can be mad.  You can be frustrated.  You can be afraid.  But do it anyway.  Try again.  Go ahead, make mistakes, fall down, get it wrong, try it again…it is all good.  We all make mistakes.  We all have to practice.  Sometimes we win.  (Especially if you have a Big Papi.).  Most importantly, don’t be afraid to fail.  Don’t give up practicing.  And remember to help your friends and family when they fall or fail or are left behind…extend your hand…and tell them, “Let’s try it again.  We are a team”.  Yes, being afraid is okay.  But do it anyway!

And to my little one, who was so upset after school this week, because after learning all about Fire Safety in class, he started a work sheet…and was upset that he might be doing it wrong because he couldn’t read the directions.  I reminded him, “You are just learning how to read, and you actually did it right!”  Then I immediately told him a story about me… and how sometimes… I don’t get things right either!  And these stories I will share with him often so he knows he does not walk alone in disappointment and failure.  Then we can laugh about it and try again. (Oops, dropped fly ball…moving on.)   

And at the end of each day, I hope to remember to encourage my little player…that we are so proud of him…and that he is ALWAYS the Most Valuable Player in our home. 

“These players, a lot of other people didn't believe in them, but they believe in themselves. And that is all that matters.”  - Bill Belichick

My final words to my son today, “Believe in yourself little Ninja (his chosen Halloween costume this year). “

GO RED SOX!