Son @ MindSay

You would probably do what I did.  I called and talked to the coach about it.  A coach who is a teenager who sees nothing wrong with harassing of one of his players by the other players.  A kid whose parents taught him right from wrong and who is NOT that bad of a coach even if his assistant coach is lax in his coaching of the kids.  The coach agreed with me that it is wrong and the older kids on the team are a big problem and he will take care of it.

And that is exactly what I did.  I called and talked to the coach about it.  I even made sure to disappear for tonight's practice of my son's.  I hung out at my daughter's practice.  The coach addressed the issue during my son's practice and even the last bit of the practice I watched went relatively well.  

I have no problem getting after my boy for not paying attention and I have no problem getting after the other boys.  Especially the ones that are harassing not only my son but other players.  I didn't get after anyone tonight but my boy for screwing with one of the light poles.  

Again things were going good, then the end of practice hit.  And the same two kids started in on Coltin.  Now Colt is gangly and very uncorridanated at the moment and I am letting a lot of things go that other parents wouldn't and other parents like myself would say he has to learn to deal with.  Which he does.  Always through life there are people that will harasse you just because you are you.  I teach my kids that.

I watched and watched as my son literally curled (no I am not kidding you-on the ground sitting and curling into himself and telling the boys to leave him alone!) into himself as the boys were harassing him.  Part of it was his own fault for not listening to the coach but not the harassing part.  Now the main coach was finishing the drill and the second coach was standing there with a thumb up  his ass and NOT paying attention to the boys.  

I did a parent no no.  I blew.  Instead of waiting till the end of practice and letting the coach know what I think of those particular boys.  I made a scene (I am good at those).  The coach started yelling so therefore I started raising my voice even more.  I point blank told him to get the kids undercontrol or I would start calling parents and making his life a living hell.  The coach informed me that harassing is apart of sports and Coltin needs to learn to deal with it.  And I said you know I have played sports and we were NEVER allowed to harass our own teammates to the point they were wanting to quit!  When he said that I blew even further and named two of the kids names and told him to get the bratty kids undercontrol.  

I shouldn't have done that.  Thus the parent no no.  Not what I said but when I said it and making a general judgement on all the boys.

Well one of the kids I named, their mom was there.  She is an ex class mate of my sisters and thinks her shit doesn't stink and she married into a family that thinks the same way.  She informed me Colt was the issue here and he is jsut as bratty.  She didn't know what to do when I said yes he is and you haven't been at practices, I have and I get right after him.  Since the coaches WON'T get after ANY of the boys.  

Well the coach had the boys come over and apologize to Coltin while we were walking to leave and I went walking over to the mom since she was walking over all pissy to the field.  I attempted to stop and talk to her about her bratty little son and how he is just fine when he isn't around the other bratty kid.  She had the never to tell me that I should let Coltin handle this type of harassment himself and defend himself with hitting.  I pointed out to her also as she was storming away that we were NEVER allowed to behave the way these kids are on the field.  She ignored me.

I talked to Coltin about what happened, my parents, my hubby, and a friend.  They all agreed that I was in the wrong for not waiting for practice to end because it would have upset the kids who weren't being bratty.  But I was right for saying what I did about the two bratty kids and the harassement of my son.  

I called and ate crow to the coach on how I handled the situation.  He isn't happy with how I called him out on how lazy his assistant coach is, that I will NOT allow the harassing of my son.  Unlike other parents, I take after MY parents and will ALWAYS defend my child while pointing out what they could have done different themselves.  This little sixteen year old also didn't know what to think when I said I will eat crow and humble myself to a team of little boys on how I handled the situation.  I will NOT apologize for calling out the two brats, but I will apologize for not talking to the coach after practice, for making a general judgement on all the boys being brats, and admit that adults and parents can all be wrong at times.  I also informed him what the other mother said I should have my son do to defend himself.  And I said I don't play that game.  My kids are taught to NEVER hit first.  And if someone does hit t hem, put em down and do it hard.  Coltin lets a lot of things go thus why he literally curled into himself.  We have told him time and time again that people in general are good people but in crowds they are nasty and to be himself and watch his back.  He isn't the type to go off and hit someone nor is he the type to take on a crowd of boys his age.  He isn't stupid.  The coach wasn't sure what to make of me telling him what the other mother said.  Plus the coach was suprised that I informed him Coltin got his ass chewed for being a poor sport and to start speaking up with out moaning and bitching.  He will learn the sport in time.  

Thus I am eating crow at the next practice and I am willing to do it.  I am not a perfect parent and I reacted the way my own parents use to embarass my sister, brother, & I over injustices done to us in this small podonck town and surrounding towns.  But I am willing to admit my mistakes even if it is to kids.  

What I am NOT willing to do is have my kids beat down, harassed, and treated like shit because they are doing what everyone in this world should do and that is to be themselves.  I will never allow my kids to be victims to anyone especially at the ages they are. No matter if the people trying to victimize them are kids themselves. That is my job to become the person non grata as the parent.  I have no problem pissing off people for speaking the truth.  But I also know there is always a price to pay for speakign the truth and letting my emotions getaway from me.  I eat crow.

My only goal out of this situation even if the parents ask that Coltin be removed from the team is to show these small town people that not everyone thinks their kids are the greatest.  I think my kids are amazing but they aren't perfect because humans are not perfect.  And we as parents are not perfect.