This Saturday was a busy day starting with back to back baseball games, then yard work in preparation for Mother's Day, meeting with a sponsee, and then being alone with the kids in the evening while my wife worked.  I was again unable to do a written evening review and was disappointed.  I also didn't get to do one yesterday and my wife is talking to me now without knowing how important this is (seems?) to me.

The first baseball game was very intense.  I got to see that the boys need to be made aware of their mistakes but in a way that does not make them afraid.  Fear generates more mistakes.  Awareness generates intiative, practice is the only thing that really improves performance.  The game was ten times more important for the other team than for us.  Several calls went our way including the game winning out in which a huge explosion erupted at then plate between the umpires and the parents and coaches of the other team. When we lined up and shook hands on the field the other coach seemed to intuitively know that a hug was in order.  I have gotten the impression that he is a Christian and this seemed to be an expression of Christian love in the midst of a conflict.

On a lesser note I learned that calls seem to go to the winning team.  The team that seems to be playing better is the team that the umps unconsciously favor because these calls are made in the heat of the moment.  This is human nature as human judgement is not based on precise evaluation but on fuzzy logic.

My wife talked to me after the games and was deeply frustrated by a barrage of innuendo and inquisition from my Dad about how her parenting methods with my kids.  His statements inferred his ideas about how these matters should be handled, things like what she feeds them, how she maintains their health, and what she teaches them.  Clearly his ideas are not sound and my wife is very knowledgeable about these things and has more experience by virtue of having more kids and receiving good training.  I found myself inspired to encourage my wife.   My dad's criticism's actually got me thinking about what a great mom my wife is in a deep and meaningful way.  I found a greater appreciation for her for Mother's day.  I took my oldest son to buy her flowers.

I got to work with my friend on the 12 steps.  During our discussion he made a statement that he likes the fact that he comes to me with problems but the answers are not directly what to do about the problems but how to evaluate and resolve such problems.  In other words not the fish but how to fish.

Thanks be to God.