Tball, oh boy.

Max had his first tball game tonight. Definitely an experience that probably falls somewhere in the category of organized chaos. It's hilarious and completely enjoyable to watch those kiddos with their little mits chasing after and piling up for the same ball. It's even better watching them run in every direction after hitting their ball (Max, on his first run, headed straight to second base!).

What did Max think of the whole experience? I'd say the little man managed to work out the whole rainbow of emotions. Every time someone else caught the ball, Max would cry hysterically and run over to me completely frustrated that he didn't get there first. Tears streaming down his face, he was so upset that he couldn't catch the ball. I let him calm down, and then sent him back out there. Another ball hit, another teammate caught the ball, and Max would again come running over, ready to pack up and head home because he couldn't get there first. This kept up for all 12 hits of the opposing team. Max even managed to throw a true sport tantrum - throwing his hat and mit into the ground and stomping with disappointment.

Things definitely improved when he had his turn up for bat. Hitting the ball, running the bases (once he made it back to first) definitely proved to be fun.

Then, his team was back out on the field. I'd hoped that after the first "inning", he'd be a bit more realistic with his expectations of getting the ball. Nope. Ball one from the opposing team and the meltdown came. Ball two, and Max ran over telling me he'd rather run to the top of a distant grass hill than keep playing baseball. I then introduced the obvious solution that any parent would do. A run to the top of the hill after the game if there were no more tears. Face and nose wiped and he was back out on the field. At this point, Max had become a bit of a celebrity among the parents, as the funny kid who flipped out every time someone else caught the ball. By ball three, his coach, catching wind of this whole experience, casually threw another ball out in Max's direction at the same time the other ball was hit. And he caught it! His tank was then filled with excitement and confidence - that he could catch the ball! Coach kept this up through the remaining batters, and sometimes Max would get it, sometimes he wouldn't. Finally, by the end, he actually stayed on the field and didn't completely flip out when he missed the catch.

Second time up to hit the ball, he even figured out which way to run, and was a pretty happy camper.

Game over, and we made the run over to the hill.

For me, I'm thrilled that we made it through the game. If it hadn't been for our neighbors, helping out with crazy Alexis (who, on top of it all, screamed almost the entire game because she just wanted to be out there on the field), I probably would have had been the third one out there screaming with frustration.

Looking back on this event, it was interesting to see how different of an experience sports and participation with peers can be every kid.

Expectations? I'm hoping for the next games to mellow out a bit. Hopefully enough that I can snap a few pictures.

Your welcome to come, but just know, I'll probably be enlisting you for help.

Oh how I love this strong willed boy!