Reagan loves to play softball. Well, I should clarify, she loves to wear the uniform, go into the field, practice and run the bases. Those well versed in the sport will note I left out batting/hitting.
Not that she can't. She hits well in practice and with me in the backyard. But in a game, she freezes. Hasn't swung in 1.2 years of playing. Not one. Not a check swing, bunt, or even moved the bat an inch from her shoulder.
The deer-in-the-headlight routine extends to her not moving in between pitches and often means she gets beaned with a ball now and then. Often following the deer comes some tears. She has struck out on passed balls, walked (usually, she has a very small strike zone). Did I mention the girls pitch in this league...
All this only seems to bug her when she is up at the plate. She says she has fun at games and loves to go without hesitation. So whose problem is it?
In a word, mine. It drives me nuts she is not swinging. Not for my ego, but it is half the game. Everyone knows hitting is the best part; that is why there are hitting cages, not fielding cages (though, if anyone is interested in investing, we could own that market...). I feel bad she is missing that. She enjoys hitting in the backyard.
Is it totally ridiculous to send her to a psychologist at age 8 cause she won't swing? Probably. Then again, I thought it was ridiculous a teammate on my college crew team was seeing one, and the guy that was blood doping before a race was just too much too. Reagan is way too young for blood doping...for now.
I try not to influence Reagan with my problems. I try to inspire her to swing and we might be making progress now, she did some warm up swings just before going up to bat. Baby steps. If I am honest, my head hangs a bit when she is walked. I'd rather her go down swinging, giving it a chance.
So, here is to swinging for the fences; or heck, even a bunt at this point would be ok by me...
(notes on the images: top=another super-hero battle. Ian figured out how spider-man shoots web and copies it all the time. Bottom=as promised I am doing my part to inflate the illegal immigrant numbers to confuse our government (as if they need the help) They wore this to school last week.)
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