You Throw Like A Girl!!!

Growing up I spent a lot of time on the softball field. I don't remember exactly how old I was when I started playing, I just remember always playing every summer.

When we lived in Utah my coaches were my mom and her good friend Judy. I think I played just about every position. My favorite position, by far, was catcher. I LOVED trying to catch a player when they were attempting to steal any base. Let me clarify, this wasn't slow pitch softball. I could never play that game, it drove me crazy. I only played fast pitch softball. If the ball didn't come across the plate at belly level then it wasn't really softball.

When we moved to Washington mom coached me for a while. When I was in junior high school I had a coach named Ray. Hmmm...his last name just left me. Anyway, I played for him until I it came to an end. I don't remember playing while I was in high school.

I recall one time when mom was coaching I threw the ball to 2nd base trying to catch a girl at stealing the base and our 2nd baseman missed the ball completely. As I'm sure it wasn't my fault at all, I went balistic. I remember yelling and throwing a temper tantrum. And I remember mom putting a stop to it. Thanks mom for teaching me there is more to life and that softball, or any sport for that matter, is just a game.

Now when my boys play ball with their dad he always says to them, "You throw like your mom, like a girl." When grandma is around to hear that she always responds, you should have seen your mom throw the ball. It's good you throw like your mom.

I have to admit, I miss it sometimes. I haven't kept myself in shape and to play now would probably kill me. I just hope that I can teach my kids how fun sports really can be. When I hear about or see parents going crazy at their child's game I think, "Wow! What a horrible example." Too many things in this life are competitive, can't we just have fun anymore? Can't we all just play nice?