My son was born in 1998, the year Joe Torre took the Yankees to another World Series. I sat and watched every game with this tiny soul in my arms. My son says now that's when he became a Yankee fan. I was a long time season ticket holder to the Seattle Mariners. My son and later my daughter joined me at dozens of games. The rule for me is always when the kids want to leave - we go, no questions asked. I had heard that advice from another Father in my section. He told me they will grow to love the game if you leave when they are ready. My kids now sit through in 9 innings and score the game without a complaint.The memories stand large for the 3 of us. The Mariners had 116 wins in the beginning of the Decade (that seems so long ago) and my son went to 48 games that year. We watched the All Star game from behind home plate. We watched Clemons and Rivera. We saw A-Rod play on both teams. The site of the any Ballpark gets my kids to perk up and say "when can we go Dad?"
Since tonight is the start of the World Series it means that another terrific season is about to end. It also is a chance for me and my kids to celebrate the love we have for Baseball. I found my inspiration from a terrific Father and Waldorf teacher Jake Petrash. He wrote "Covering Home: Lessons on the Art of Fathering from the Game of Baseball."
Petrash describes three important stages of childhood (and parenting), each of which lasts about seven years and which he equates with the early innings, the middle innings, and the late innings in Baseball. In the first three innings, the focus is on the child's and the father's "active" involvement in their relationship. In the next three innings, their relationship centers on the emotional connection between them. The last three innings are more "thoughtful" as the child learns to become independent.
I'm in the middle innings right now with my kids. So far the beloved game has provided many chances for us to create a strong emotional bond. I am looking forward to the later innings while enjoying the fun that is happening right now.
