Tournament Time Again

This is my favorite time of  year.  From the first of March until the end of September my kids are in tournaments every weekend.  There is nothing like packing a cooler and hanging at the ball park all weekend.  Of course, I always pack several adult beverages as well.  They have 3 games each on Saturday, which means we will be at the ball park all day.  Sunday always seems to be the longest day, because they could each potentially play up to 6 games.  Many people ask how (and why) I would do that, but by the end of the summer they realize it was worth it!

It's all about the farmer's tan.  

Here's the way it really is....

My kids have definitely said on more than one occasion that they want to quit.  But this is usually when they are having to miss a sleepover or birthday party because of a tournament, or when it is 100 degrees outside and they have to practice.  But when they get to practice or a tournament, they seem to forget that just 30 minutes prior they were upset becuase they had to go. 

I don't think I am pushing them to hard, I am just trying to fill their time with something besides sitting on the couch eating bon-bons...

I am not pushing them to do anything they are not capable of doing.  They are smart kids, and any grade lower than an A is due to laziness and not turning in an assignment.  They both tested out as exceptional, so my expectations are high for them academically, as there is no reason they should not get straight A's in elementary and junior high school. 

Softball is their chosen extracurricular activity and they are very good at this as well.  I am not looking for them to go play professionally anywhere.  I just want them to not have to pay for college.  Whether this is academically or athletically, their skills are just a tool they can use for free education, no more, no less!
But what it really comes down to is that I see entirely too many children, who do nothing but sit around and watch television or play video games.  Our youth are becoming very lazy (and obese) and I do not want that lifestyle for my children.

So I will keep pushing them and continue to be their external motivator!

Is Competition Good

I grew up in the competitive sports world and played nearly every sport imaginable.  I played ice hockey, softball, golf, volleyball, track and field, basketball, bowling, and anything that offered competition.  My father always pushed us to be the best, do our best, and we would be rewarded for our hard work.  I maintain straight A's through school and when it I needed it to count, it did, I recieved a full athletic scholarship for college.  My brother, who was an awesome baseball player, also received full athletic scholarship.  I have sister, though not the athlete my brother and I were, was very book smart, and I can remember her staying up until the wee hours of the night to finish her homework.  She is a bit OCD as well, so it had to be done with perfection.  To this day, I am a very competitive adult and hate to lose.  That is my nature and I am okay with that.  However, I have two daughters and I am pushing them as my father did me.  Is this bad?  I don't think so!