Lessons learned at the ballpark - pt 1

It is now July here in sunny Oklahoma. It is has been miserable hot since early June. Normally this would be no big deal to most people. Just stay inside in the air conditioning and enjoy your icy cold beverage. But for my family, we spent just about every night either at the ball field or practice. So while I was out in the heat, getting a crazy tan, downing bottles of gatorade, hauling kids' gear around, and sizzling my poor brain, I had a chance to think of everything we gain from softball and baseball.

Just to reiterate - I have 2 girls playing softball, a 13 year old and an 8 year old, and then a 5 year old boy playing tee-ball.

I think my boy probably learns the most since this is his only interaction with people his own age and adults that are not his parents. 

He has learned patience.  He has to wait his turn to bat.  He has to wait in the field for the ball to come to him to make a play on it.  He has to wait after the game is over for the coach to talk and then hand out drink tickets.

He has learned to share.  The whole team plays with only 1 ball.  All the boys want to have a turn, must share and not be a ball hog.

He has learned to walk in a line and not always being able to be first.

He has learned that we don't always win, but it is sure fun when we do. And that we just need to try harder next time.  And that his parents still love him no matter what.

He has learned to be nice to the other players on his team and the other team.

He has learned to take instructions from other trusted adults and to actually listen and then do what was said.

This is a huge undertaking at 5.  He didn't know he was going to be learning all this when he begged to play his most favorite of games.  I didn't really think deep about what he would learn and gain.  I was just looking forward to watching him play.  But now thinking back, I like knowing that he has learned some valuable life lessons from playing something as simple as little league baseball.  Things that will help him this year in school and beyond.