Monday, February 15, 2010

Parenting Dilemma

So...
tomorrow is the last day to register for Little League baseball. Assuming we can swing a deal with the league to help us lower the cost of the registration fees, it's our last chance to sign the boys up for the season. Tarzan is excited, and definitely wants to do it. Scooby is extremely ambivalent. He got pretty upset when I asked him if he wanted to play, but seems unable to articulate why. He "kind of likes it and kind of doesn't." He "kind of wants to play and kind of doesn't." He's kind of driving me crazy. Of course, my best guess is he still likes baseball, but doesn't feel very good about himself when he's playing, since he's not actually that good at it. (Shhh) So, do I encourage him to do it, let him take the easy way out, or what??? My inclination is to strongly encourage him to do it, but I'm afraid I'd be setting myself up for months of struggle and fighting. Or, he could love it. Thoughts? Advice? Help!!!

7 comments:

Melissa said...

I would ask him if he thinks there would be something he'd like better. Perhaps if presented with a choice, his opinion might solidify a bit more? Maybe he feels like people expect him to like it? Or want him to like it? I don't know - maybe something like karate that is more about individual improvement rather than team competition (and public humiliation...or at least that's what I remember about team sports!) Is there a community center like the Roudenbush that would offer other things?

Laura said...

Speaking not as a parent but as a former not-a-lover-of-team-sports kid, I'm guessing he doesn't really want to play but is afraid of letting you (or others) down. I'm with Melissa -- perhaps something more individually focused might be more his thing (my nephew has really taken to fencing!).

Sawdust said...

Ditto. He probably doesn't want to play, but thinks he "should." Life's too short.

Blackbird said...

Yeah, he doesn't want to play. Maybe he'd like golf? It would be something he could do with Don.

SMNYC said...

It would be worth talking to him a bit more (I'm sure you have) and even if he doesn't want to play anymore, listen hard for the bits he did and didn't like. My memories of little league...well its a long time ago. But I remember early on, I didn't have a CLUE what I was doing. I remember getting picked on a lot by my team mates. I remember one year I felt pretty good, and then the next year I felt absolutely lost.

What I don't remember is making great friendships, or actually improving at it. I guess my point is, did he like to play? Did he like the kids? Did he like...the pizza after the game...

I like the golf idea....You can tell him he's better than his Uncle Steve on day 1!

Blackbird said...

From the practices I saw, he liked (1) readjusting his uniform in the official manner, especially his hat; (2) staring into space; and (3) getting all muddy in the creek behind the ball field. That was in Pittsburgh, though.

M.M. said...

It's ok if he doesn't like to play. It's great to be a spectator also. He can enjoy the Red Sox with Grandma!