The Thanksgiving Family Baseball Game!

Mom's on first, Uncle Ken is on second, Cousin Tom is on third and Gandpa is at home plate. I am watching it all unfold from my park bench on Thanksgiving morning.

When I walked by the field on my way to the bench I asked one of the players what was going on and he informed me it was the "annual thanksgiving family baseball game."

As I watched from my park bench I counted 20 family members on two teams. Each player brought varying levels of skill to the game, but one thing seemed clear they were all having a good time. The game mixed genders and generations. Each unique family personality brought their own style to the game. Some family members were intense, others mellow, and clearly a few couldn't tell one end of the bat from the other!

What a great idea. Instead of siting around staring at each other or the boob tube (TV) they were doing something. Engaged, interactive, moving, working together, having fun, laughing, encouraging, and creating another family memory in the string of annual Thanksgiving Family Baseball Games.

It's not too late. Why not this Christmas get off your blessed assurance and do something active? Create the First Annual Family _________________________.

Just think if you have the chance to strike out or tackle a family member there might be less tension around the dinner table!

Tim

How Many Times Does It Take To Get It Right?

Sitting on my park bench I was enjoying the sunshine and fresh air when I noticed that a mother and two young daughters, carrying baseball equipment, entered the empty baseball field.

Soon mom was putting her daughters through throwing, hitting, catching and pitching practice. It was intense. One daughter even broke down in tears. "Don't be such a crybaby," I heard the mom exclaim.

While the older daughter wiped her tears the younger daughter was on the pitching mound, throwing pitch after pitch to her mother. "When can we quit," the young pitcher asked. "When you get it right," her mother replied. The mother's response resulted in wild and wayward pitches and the practice ended with a frustrated mother and two angry daughters.

Parents who demand perfection get bitter children who often grow up to become anxious insecure adults.

Tim