Those Village People Knew What They Were Talking About
Tonight I took Ben to soccer practice. Luke came with us while Sheryl and Ethan did some grocery shopping. Ben is so fun to watch at soccer. He's not very aggressive but he wants to do what his coach tells him to do so badly that he will get in there and mix it up. I can always tell that he is trying his very best. I love that about him. He is really trying. I get a kick out of watching him because I have such vivid memories of my own YMCA soccer days. It never occurred to me (as a child, back then) that all these coaches that seemed to know everything about everything were volunteers. They were the dads of other kids, giving their time so that we could have an organized game and learn how to play sports. When I was a little guy, I played everything at "the Y." My brother Mark and I were on the same soccer team for a while and Mark, correct me if I'm wrong, but we were really good, weren't we? I seem to remember that we were undefeated one year...
Watching Ben experience all this for the first time is such an overwhelming joy. It has all the joy of fond memories of my own childhood, but so much more than that is just seeing him alive. I watch him goof around with the other kids, laugh and make other kids laugh - he's having his own little life outside of me. I get to watch it. Luke is playing T-ball and I'm the assistant coach on his team. There is already one little boy on his team that I have kind of latched onto. He doesn't seem to have what I consider a great home life. I remember all the guys who were going through God-knows what when I was a kid, but put all that aside to herd a bunch of 5 year olds, trying to turn them into some kind of team. It's almost silly, but I feel truly honored to be coaching on this team. My old coaches are still giants in my mind. I'll never forget those days.
I am so grateful to the people that are giving up their evenings and their Saturday mornings to invest a little something in my children. Who knows if my boys will even grow up wanting to play sports, but I can see all over their faces how much they are enjoying this life so far.
Scott Bane
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Reader Comments (4)
Great post. The joy is even more overwhelming when
you see your grandchildren doing this; looking through
the eyes of a third generation observer. Glad to see
you writing again. I always enjoy your blog. I miss
it when you are not there.
I second that! Glad you have a moment free to write. I can't say I have that same feeling about sports. I'm one of those 'unathletic' types who really doesn't care enough to play hard enough to win. My parents made me play one season of softball when I was about 12. We lost every game. Seriously, every single game. Maybe that experience has kept me from signing my kids up for stuff, or maybe it's just that I'm selfish with our time and I like to be home and not running all the time. If there is something my kids are interested in, and they keep bringing it up, I wouldn't have a problem letting them try. Most of the time though, it's because so-and-so is on this team, or this person plays soccer and I want to. MAybe I'm cheating them out of a good life experience. My other excuse is that until my husband is willing to cut back on his many softball teams and help with all the practices and running, it's not happening.
I myself enjoy watching my children enjoy themselves!! I do find joy in watching them have fun. I have coached and enjoyed it, got to watch a neighbor coach, when Windy was on the T-ball team, and enjoyed. I am just so thankful for those who coach and chose to spend their time helping kids who are not just their own!! Last year Larry was coaching Mitch's football team when, they put on the pads, and Mitch didn't want to play anymore, so Larry coached a team without any of our kids on it!!!! I still loved watching those children play, there was a sense of pride in my husband, for being the first one to teach him how to play!! My only advice: remember it is about the kids having fun and not about us mean parents who think you should be doing it differently, enjoy coaching the children, not controlling the parents!!!! It is so great you are enjoying your family!!!!!
When my kids first started playing sports, one of the things I enjoyed most was watching their initial experiences of interacting with kids/adults outside of our family. Craig and I were always laughing about something adorable that they had never said/done before. It is such a sweet time.