I resisted getting too involved in baseball {I'm leery of time commitments} , but I'm having fun being in the dugout with eleven enthusiastic 8U boys! Just like every situation in my life, God put me in this place at this time to teach me something (s) !
Keeping the boys (and all their gear) organized is a bit like herding cats, but I'm treasuring every moment.
Making a bucket for each player has worked well. I grabbed the team logo from the internet and added it to each boy's name and number. Laminating all of them was a good idea, too. Affix them all with clear packing tape and you're set.
A bonus if you use buckets: When someone doesn't cap up their water and it leaks all in the bucket, you can just pour it out!
I'm learning a lot spending time in the dugout:
1. Boys are just SILLY... some people mistake it for disobedient or disrespectful... I think they just need RULES and STRUCTURE.
2. A little one's spirit can be crushed in an instant - be careful what you say in the heat of the moment... baseball is just a GAME, after all. Our little boys' spirits are much more important than a botched throw or daydreaming in the outfield.
3. Little boys crave recognition and praise - searching for the good and not the bad is ALWAYS the best idea. Sometimes even the child who is perceived as most difficult just needs quite praise and consistent limits.
4. Potty humor is a form of communication... I'm learning not to fight it (within reason!).
5. God gave me a little boy to let me experience the world physically and to lighten me up!
Do you have any bits of wisdom about little boys?
