Teamwork: Baseball and Family

This is Drew's second year of playing baseball. The first year was rough. He had a lot of trouble catching and throwing. Hitting the ball he had down from the start but the rest was all a struggle. What a difference a year makes. This year he can throw great, catch the ball, his hits have improved, and you can tell he's got a better understanding of how the game works.

Last night marked the most exciting game to date. Just as Drew has improved by leaps and bounds, so has the team. They actually play really well as a team, working together to get an out. They displayed such extraordinary teamwork last night that I think the parents were almost stunned. There were so many good plays and most of them involved them helping each other! It was truly an amazing game and one that they worked so hard to win. They sure deserved it!

Drew had a lot of action in the game with three great hits, an RBI, and an out. He fumbled a few balls (they were coming at him all night!) and I am most proud of how he handled his frustration. Instead of giving up he channeled that frustration into working harder.

I wish there was a way to convey in writing the excitement this game held but I know no matter how I describe it there is no way you will feel what we all felt last night.  The words escape me of how to describe how excited and nerve-racking the game was and how proud we were of The Big W Sliders (and especially our Drew.) What a night!

Drew's fan club was so proud of him! They haven't missed a game this year and have been cheering and supporting him all season.

I've noticed that teamwork is an important role in family and I am so happy that Drew and Jackson are learning that. Drew and Jackson know that Grandma Debbie and Aunt Stacey will always be there to support them, in good and bad. The boys know that those two wouldn't miss anything and would move mountains for them if they could.

Through family the boys have learned that no matter what you are there for your family, selfishness isn't an option, sweating the small stuff is pointless, we treat each other the way we would want to be treated (That one is all Mom! She pounded "the golden rule" into our heads growing up!), laughter can cure anything, and we are happiest when we are all together.

It makes me so happy that the boys have this in their lives. Happy because unfortunately they are also learning, at what I consider way too young of an age, that some people aren't willing to make an effort to be a part of their lives. It makes me so sad. I think of my dad and how much he would have loved them. He would have jumped at any chance to be with them.

Another thing I learned from family is to look at the positive in any situation. I would say that the positive is that the boy's bond with all the other members of the family is so strong that it cures whatever might be lacking with the others.

There is no doubt that they have plenty of family to support them and love them. And, just like baseball it's all about teamwork (with a lot of love too!)