Not In The Cards For You, Son

I took Awsumb into the pediatrician for a general check up and to update his shots.  Awsumb was wearing some sort of baseball gear that day, a hat or jacket, probably both.  So the receptionist starts talking to him about baseball, asking the usual questions, "Do you play ball?  What team do you play for?  I used to play softball. I bet your an all star.  Do you want to be a professional player when you grow up?"  This is where I step in..  "He's a little small for his age. I don't think that's in the cards for you, son."  as I give Awsumb that little half smile telling him, "Let me just end this little inquiry for you."  And of course this turns into a whole conversation in which the receptionist is telling him to keep playing, etc. 

It's not that we told Awsumb he can't be anything he wants. It's that we have always been realistic with him.  There were those preschool years when all he wanted to be was a fireman, racecar driver or Batman.  Then came the years he decided his career plan would go more like this, "First I want to be in the Army, then play baseball, then be a Dentist, then in the FBI and finally a writer." 

Just like any good parents we spent years talking to him about what all these options would require.  We encouraged him to dream, knowing that he very well could pick one of those or something he had not yet thought of to be when he grew up.  We arranged to have a tour of and FBI office and spend some time with an agent.  We talked about different paths in the U.S. Army, we played baseball every day in the yard and have been coaching him since little league.

Awsumb came the conclusion all on his own that he didn't want to deal with people who have yucky teeth all day (he has a sick stomach)  and I still pushed that one because well, I just wanted to run the back office for him LOL!  And we have always encouraged him to read and write.  I never felt like we stifled his dreams, we were just realistic with him.

So in baseball, when Awsumb fell into a hitting slump we arranged private coaching for him.  Eventually the kids who had picked grass and played with the dirt in the outfield for years finally started figuring it out ... and when they started growing big and stronger than our little squirt could ever hope to be we were frank with him.  We told him that baseball is something he could always love, he could play, coach, be the biggest fan of whatever team he choose... it could always be part of his life... but "No son, I don't think it's in the cards for you."  And we took a step back and tried to show him that he could enjoy baseball all the same.  We told him "You don't always have to be the best!"  All the while thinking we are being good parents for being realistic and just trying to make baseball a fun time.

So as we leave the doctors office the receptionist chases after us with a piece of paper saying, "I took the time to look up a whole bunch of  short baseball players for you.  Look them up and learn their story.  You can do anything you want to do!" 

Thanks a lot lady!  She meant well.  But she sure did not make me feel like mother of the year!

It's great to have high expectations from your kids. It's good to push them and challenge them.  But sometimes its's also good for them to learn to be happy being average.  Sometimes in life, being average is what brings us the most happiness.  It's safe, there isn't a lot of stress.  And learning to be happy when things are well, average will help our children to be happy in the long run.  Because there is always going to be someone bigger and better. Something bigger and better.  Somewhere bigger and better.  But being happy, with what you can do, who you are and where you are is gold!