Team Mom

By Amy Heesacker

My son is playing T-ball for the first time this spring, and I volunteered to be "Team Mom" before I really knew what that entailed: repeatedly begging other parents to work the concessions stand and buy fundraiser tickets for BBQ pork.

Being Team Mom also means hanging out in the dugout with the kids, reminding them not to climb on the chain link fencing or dump their water on the dugout floor, encouraging them to root for their teammates.

Wearing the team jersey and cap, I can be found each Saturday morning screaming my heart out with the rest of The Jets, "That's okay, Andrew, it was a great swing. Good job!" as one of our players hits a mighty foul ball.

I realized the other day that none of us really know what we're getting into when we sign on to become part of the mom team. We don't really know what the job involves until we are well into the season. We organize as best we can for the opener and then just sort of play it by ear after that, trying to keep our players out of harm's way, cleaning up their messes and helping them learn how to be good teammates to all the other little players in their league.

Last weekend, my friend Carolyn and I took turns helping our kids work out their differences. During one skirmish in the wading pool I observed Carolyn working her magic. She got down at the kids' level, acknowledged that there was a problem, and in her calmest voice asked each child what they wanted and what they thought might be a fair compromise. And I thought to myself that I'm glad to have Carolyn on my mom team, working with me to help our kids grow into good people.

It's a relief that Team Moms don't have to go it alone. As I read through the headlines this week ("Global Warming," "More War Casualties," "A Rejected Shooter") I wondered if our nation might not benefit from having a Team Mom.

She'd be crazy to take the job, so I suspect we shouldn't tell her what's involved. Team Mom for the U.S. league would stay busy reminding her players to take care of their dugout so the next team won't have to sit with their mess. She'll be teaching them how to deal with unsportsmanlike conduct by another team -- breathe, think, and take the high road. But the majority of the time she'll be yelling out encouragement from the dugout so that her players will never lose hope. You interested?

Amy Heesacker is a thirty-something SAHM and part-time psychology professor living in the deep South with her husband and two children.

Comments

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WOW!!!!!!!!!!!! What an amazing team! I am sure that it could not have been an easy job to decide but I would say that you ladies did a FABULOUS job! An extra special Congrats to my girl Janine Wahl! I am soooo happy for you!

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I observed Carolyn working her magic. She got down at the kids' level, acknowledged that there was a problem, and in her calmest voice asked each child what they wanted and what they thought might be a fair compromise....

great observation !!