EIGHT LESSONS THAT I LEARNED FROM A FIVE YEAR OLD
A couple of weeks ago, a friend of mine who is the associate head coach of the TCU Baseball team asks me to babysit his five year old son during the TCU vs. Wichita State baseball game. The first thing that comes to mind is that if anyone asks ME to babysit, everyone else on their list has turned them down. I’m going to the baseball game anyway, so it all works...
Since I’m running a tad bit late (yes, I know, surprise, surprise) I meet both Todd and Matthew in front of the ballpark. Matt jumps in my Jeep and we drive to find a parking space. As we are walking to the ball park, the Star-Spangled Banner starts to play over the sound system. FIRST LESSON – NO MATTER IF YOU ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PARKING LOT DODGING CARS, IF YOU HEAR THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER, YOU STOP, TAKE YOUR CAP OFF AND PLACE IT OVER YOUR HEART UNTIL THE END. He was so adorable standing there with his cap over his heart (in full baseball dress) that everyone just waited. So we head into the game, it’s Sunday (Kid’s Day at the Ballpark) and the bounce houses are calling his name. We go to the kid’s area and take his shoes and socks off and he’s ready to go! There is a bounce house that simulates an obstacle course (climbing a wall, slide, ropes, blocks to dodge, and a bridge that you have to either crawl under or over). He goes through a couple of times and I am timing him to see how he does. Too many kids are running through the course at one time and the ushers are afraid that someone is going to get hurt so they allow only two kids at a time (similiar size/age). It's Matt's turn so I run around to the exit so that I can time him again to see if he is getting faster. He runs out, throws his fist in the air and yells “I BEAT THAT BABY!” and the funniest part is that his competitor was this sweet little girl that had no idea this was a competition. SECOND LESSON – COMPETITION HAS NO AGE LIMIT. THIRD LESSON – COME HELL OR HIGH WATER, WINNING IS EVERYTHING! I wonder who taught him that???
A couple of weeks ago, a friend of mine who is the associate head coach of the TCU Baseball team asks me to babysit his five year old son during the TCU vs. Wichita State baseball game. The first thing that comes to mind is that if anyone asks ME to babysit, everyone else on their list has turned them down. I’m going to the baseball game anyway, so it all works...
Since I’m running a tad bit late (yes, I know, surprise, surprise) I meet both Todd and Matthew in front of the ballpark. Matt jumps in my Jeep and we drive to find a parking space. As we are walking to the ball park, the Star-Spangled Banner starts to play over the sound system. FIRST LESSON – NO MATTER IF YOU ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PARKING LOT DODGING CARS, IF YOU HEAR THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER, YOU STOP, TAKE YOUR CAP OFF AND PLACE IT OVER YOUR HEART UNTIL THE END. He was so adorable standing there with his cap over his heart (in full baseball dress) that everyone just waited. So we head into the game, it’s Sunday (Kid’s Day at the Ballpark) and the bounce houses are calling his name. We go to the kid’s area and take his shoes and socks off and he’s ready to go! There is a bounce house that simulates an obstacle course (climbing a wall, slide, ropes, blocks to dodge, and a bridge that you have to either crawl under or over). He goes through a couple of times and I am timing him to see how he does. Too many kids are running through the course at one time and the ushers are afraid that someone is going to get hurt so they allow only two kids at a time (similiar size/age). It's Matt's turn so I run around to the exit so that I can time him again to see if he is getting faster. He runs out, throws his fist in the air and yells “I BEAT THAT BABY!” and the funniest part is that his competitor was this sweet little girl that had no idea this was a competition. SECOND LESSON – COMPETITION HAS NO AGE LIMIT. THIRD LESSON – COME HELL OR HIGH WATER, WINNING IS EVERYTHING! I wonder who taught him that???
I could go on and on. Matt was hilarious --- as witnessed by Rebekah and Jason. Without me saying, they definitely knew who he belonged to..... (see all lessons below).
FIRST LESSON – NO MATTER IF YOU ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PARKING LOT DODGING CARS, IF YOU HEAR THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER, YOU STOP, TAKE YOUR CAP OFF, AND PLACE IT OVER YOUR HEART UNTIL THE END
SECOND LESSON – COMPETITION HAS NO AGE LIMIT
THIRD LESSON – COME HELL OR HIGH WATER, WINNING IS EVERYTHING!
FOURTH LESSON – THERE IS A CERTAIN WAY TO PUT ON BASEBALL SOCKS
FIFTH LESSON – ANY KID CAN BE BOUGHT WITH SOUR KIDS CANDY
SIXTH LESSON – BOOGERS ARE FUNNY
SEVENTH LESSON – LIP BALM IS FOR GIRLS, CHAP STICK IS FOR BOYS (DR. PEPPER FLAVOR IS THE BEST)
EIGHTH LESSON – WHILE IN A STORE, KIDS DON’T LOSE YOU---YOU LOSE THEM
We ended up stopping at Blockbuster, Walgreens, and a birthday party for Mr. Ruiz who owns Fernandez Café. It was a great experience! Would I do it again? -----the question is, would Matt do it again?
FIRST LESSON – NO MATTER IF YOU ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PARKING LOT DODGING CARS, IF YOU HEAR THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER, YOU STOP, TAKE YOUR CAP OFF, AND PLACE IT OVER YOUR HEART UNTIL THE END
SECOND LESSON – COMPETITION HAS NO AGE LIMIT
THIRD LESSON – COME HELL OR HIGH WATER, WINNING IS EVERYTHING!
FOURTH LESSON – THERE IS A CERTAIN WAY TO PUT ON BASEBALL SOCKS
FIFTH LESSON – ANY KID CAN BE BOUGHT WITH SOUR KIDS CANDY
SIXTH LESSON – BOOGERS ARE FUNNY
SEVENTH LESSON – LIP BALM IS FOR GIRLS, CHAP STICK IS FOR BOYS (DR. PEPPER FLAVOR IS THE BEST)
EIGHTH LESSON – WHILE IN A STORE, KIDS DON’T LOSE YOU---YOU LOSE THEM
We ended up stopping at Blockbuster, Walgreens, and a birthday party for Mr. Ruiz who owns Fernandez Café. It was a great experience! Would I do it again? -----the question is, would Matt do it again?
