When I pictured myself as a parent many moons ago (not admitting to how many moons that is), I pictured myself as many things. I saw myself in the audience of school plays, community theatre productions, dance recitals, and maybe even gymnastics meets. What I didn't picture is learning all the rules to baseball, understanding the difference between a shooting guard and a point guard in basketball, and knowing the names and stats of a whole bunch of players in a whole bunch of sports. We can ignore my sojourn on the Leo Baeck Day School's girls' basketball team. To be honest, I only got on because every grade 8 was put on the team if they wanted, and the position I played was bench warmer.
As a kid, I knew a little bit about hockey, because well, I'm Canadian, live in Toronto, and my dad liked to take me to Leafs' games. I consider myself to be a semi-realistic fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs. I want them to win, but I understand how highly unlikely that is to ever actually happen. I like to blame the referees, but I also acknowledge that I don't have a lot of understanding of what truly happened in the game, but it is fun to yell along with my kids.
My children have not just waded in, but dove headfirst into the wonderful world of sports. I am very much being dragged along for the ride. My foray into baseball is not just for show, so that I can write convincingly for Lucky At Bat, but because my sons play the game. They are on a team this year, (positions to be announced soon, I think?) and we also have tickets to the Blue Jays. Joseph is convinced that this is our year. I say, we'll see. I know several players on other teams. Phillip also plays Rep basketball, and has been thrilled with his first year playing at this level. His enthusiasm is something else, especially considering his team's record of 0-34. Let's go Avengers!
I truly hope that nothing changes Phillip from who he is. He likes what he likes, loves what he loves, and doesn't care what others think of it. To give an example: he is the only one I know who will attend a Toronto Raptor's game wearing a Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry jersey. Were we even playing the Warriors that day? Nope. He just loves his favourites that much. The day we attend a Jays vs. Padres game this season, he will be surrounded by his family wearing our Jays gear wearing a Fernando Tatis Jr. Padres jersey with pride. Never change, Phillip.
A couple weeks ago, I drove Phillip to Niagara Falls for his first ever basketball tournament. Yes, they lost every game. But you know what? They played hard, and I couldn't have been prouder of his effort, his optimism, and his spirit. I think it's just as important for a kid to learn how to take a loss (or 34) as it is for them to learn how to win graciously. When the tournament was over, Phillip wore his commemorative sweatshirt with pride. His take away was that they lost the last game by 30-35, but the first couple games of the season, they lost 53-9 and 85-14 respectively. To him, this was certainly a win, and it's an attitude I wish I had some days.
We celebrated by wandering Clifton Hill, and Phillip went to his first wax museum, I continued his losing streak by crushing him at air hockey, and at a shooting game, and then at a rousing game of dinosaur mini golf. His strategy of shooting like Happy Gilmore backfired spectacularly, but he didn't care. As it should be, it was all about having fun.
As a triplet mom, it's rare to get these moments where it's just me and one of the kids. I treasure them when they come. Come this baseball season, the boys will be playing baseball on the Twins, Hailey will continue horseback riding, and I will be cheering them all on, win or lose, no matter their team's stats, as I should be.
As a kid, I knew a little bit about hockey, because well, I'm Canadian, live in Toronto, and my dad liked to take me to Leafs' games. I consider myself to be a semi-realistic fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs. I want them to win, but I understand how highly unlikely that is to ever actually happen. I like to blame the referees, but I also acknowledge that I don't have a lot of understanding of what truly happened in the game, but it is fun to yell along with my kids.
My children have not just waded in, but dove headfirst into the wonderful world of sports. I am very much being dragged along for the ride. My foray into baseball is not just for show, so that I can write convincingly for Lucky At Bat, but because my sons play the game. They are on a team this year, (positions to be announced soon, I think?) and we also have tickets to the Blue Jays. Joseph is convinced that this is our year. I say, we'll see. I know several players on other teams. Phillip also plays Rep basketball, and has been thrilled with his first year playing at this level. His enthusiasm is something else, especially considering his team's record of 0-34. Let's go Avengers!
I truly hope that nothing changes Phillip from who he is. He likes what he likes, loves what he loves, and doesn't care what others think of it. To give an example: he is the only one I know who will attend a Toronto Raptor's game wearing a Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry jersey. Were we even playing the Warriors that day? Nope. He just loves his favourites that much. The day we attend a Jays vs. Padres game this season, he will be surrounded by his family wearing our Jays gear wearing a Fernando Tatis Jr. Padres jersey with pride. Never change, Phillip.
A couple weeks ago, I drove Phillip to Niagara Falls for his first ever basketball tournament. Yes, they lost every game. But you know what? They played hard, and I couldn't have been prouder of his effort, his optimism, and his spirit. I think it's just as important for a kid to learn how to take a loss (or 34) as it is for them to learn how to win graciously. When the tournament was over, Phillip wore his commemorative sweatshirt with pride. His take away was that they lost the last game by 30-35, but the first couple games of the season, they lost 53-9 and 85-14 respectively. To him, this was certainly a win, and it's an attitude I wish I had some days.
We celebrated by wandering Clifton Hill, and Phillip went to his first wax museum, I continued his losing streak by crushing him at air hockey, and at a shooting game, and then at a rousing game of dinosaur mini golf. His strategy of shooting like Happy Gilmore backfired spectacularly, but he didn't care. As it should be, it was all about having fun.
As a triplet mom, it's rare to get these moments where it's just me and one of the kids. I treasure them when they come. Come this baseball season, the boys will be playing baseball on the Twins, Hailey will continue horseback riding, and I will be cheering them all on, win or lose, no matter their team's stats, as I should be.
The happiest team at the tournament. Avengers Assemble!
An action shot. He's #5 because Santiago Espinal is his favourite Blue Jay.
Demonstrating the moves for his favourite song of all time- Thriller
How he poses with a dinosaur
The most violently green sweatshirt I've ever seen. He loves it.
Phillip taking a selfie of us on the Sky Wheel with the Falls in the background.
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