It is at the youth league in Hopkinsville. Here's the deal. I'm a mom, this is what I would have done. I would have sat my kid down and explained, in age appropriate language, what happened. I would say "look Junior, Mommy made a mistake. I was supposed to work selling slushies and hot dogs, but I didn't make it. So the rules say you have to miss one game. I know that stinks and I'm really sorry that I did that. I promise that I will try and keep this from ever happening again. Just like if you break the rules at school you get punished, well this is our punishment. Mommies can make mistakes just like kids can. Now we are going to go to the game and you can sit in the dug out and lead the cheers for your team."

 

Somehow I think this 7 year old would have forgiven his mother and learned a valuable lesson. That rules are rules and even mommies can be held accountable for their actions. How do we teach our children to take responsibility if we won't take it ourselves?

 

Please stop making sense. You are confusing people. This was clearly the fault of some selfish, egomaniacal, Little League president who gets his jollies hurting little kids and should be forever banned from LL and the sport of baseball. I'm sure there's a whole gaggle of volunteers just waiting to step into his president role and assume all his duties. Unpaid, volunteer duties.

The mom should have been responsible enough to change shifts with someone else or get someone to fill in for her, however, I don't think there's a good excuse to punish a child over it. Maybe if my dad gets a speeding ticket next week, they'll shoot me with a taser to teach him a lesson.

It is at the youth league in Hopkinsville. Here's the deal. I'm a mom, this is what I would have done. I would have sat my kid down and explained, in age appropriate language, what happened. I would say "look Junior, Mommy made a mistake. I was supposed to work selling slushies and hot dogs, but I didn't make it. So the rules say you have to miss one game. I know that stinks and I'm really sorry that I did that. I promise that I will try and keep this from ever happening again. Just like if you break the rules at school you get punished, well this is our punishment. Mommies can make mistakes just like kids can. Now we are going to go to the game and you can sit in the dug out and lead the cheers for your team."

 

Somehow I think this 7 year old would have forgiven his mother and learned a valuable lesson. That rules are rules and even mommies can be held accountable for their actions. How do we teach our children to take responsibility if we won't take it ourselves?

 

 

 

Very well said. :thumb:

You think the kids on his team wouldn't know what's going on? You don't think this was a terrible embarrassment for him. All of the adults involved are equally responsible.

 

Honestly, I do not think the other 7 year olds had any clue. On the teams I've been around, kids sit out all the time for various reasons. Maybe they are sick, late, hurt, etc. Or maybe there are too many kids on the team and everyone has to sit out sometimes. Seven year olds are more self-contained than that for the most part, they are only worried about themselves. I just don't see how he was "humiliated" by not playing one game? His mother making a big brouhaha? That is humiliating!

C'mon,,,,,,the only revenue to even run the league where we're involved is generated by the concession stand. The fees charged at the beginning of the year barely cover the LL charter. What alternate plan do you propose? In the Ashland American LL for instance (where the best pitcher in MLB B.Webb hails from) no concession stand $, no lights on the field, no water or lights in the restroom. So what exactly do you propose?

 

 

What Little League is based on. Volunteers, but you shouldn't force people to do it, and much less make a kid sit.

It is at the youth league in Hopkinsville. Here's the deal. I'm a mom, this is what I would have done. I would have sat my kid down and explained, in age appropriate language, what happened. I would say "look Junior, Mommy made a mistake. I was supposed to work selling slushies and hot dogs, but I didn't make it. So the rules say you have to miss one game. I know that stinks and I'm really sorry that I did that. I promise that I will try and keep this from ever happening again. Just like if you break the rules at school you get punished, well this is our punishment. Mommies can make mistakes just like kids can. Now we are going to go to the game and you can sit in the dug out and lead the cheers for your team."

 

Somehow I think this 7 year old would have forgiven his mother and learned a valuable lesson. That rules are rules and even mommies can be held accountable for their actions. How do we teach our children to take responsibility if we won't take it ourselves?

 

Key phrase is mommies held accountable not the kids!

Please stop making sense. You are confusing people. This was clearly the fault of some selfish, egomaniacal, Little League president who gets his jollies hurting little kids and should be forever banned from LL and the sport of baseball. I'm sure there's a whole gaggle of volunteers just waiting to step into his president role and assume all his duties. Unpaid, volunteer duties.

You may not realize it, but you summed up the TRUTH perfectly -- the league should be ashamed.

Honestly, I do not think the other 7 year olds had any clue.

I doubt they did either. But in that little kids mind the picture was probably much different. When you're suddenly made to feel different -- especially at that age -- you feel like the eyes of the whole world are beating down on you.

If concessions are so important, why not offer a pay to play alternative?

You may not realize it, but you summed up the TRUTH perfectly -- the league should be ashamed.

 

I guess you're entitled to that opinion. I've helped run Little League and volunteered in many organizations. I know how frustrating it can be when a small number of people do all the work for the enjoyment of many others. Sometimes you have to make rules you would otherwise prefer not to make in order to overcome other people's selfishness. Neither of us truly know the whole story behind this situation, but I will assume the man running the league is a good person who cares about kids. Do you know otherwise? So even in a worst case scenario in which he may have overreacted - and I don't think he did - it doesn't make him a monster and the "league" shouldn't be ashamed. LL is a great organization that does A LOT of good for A LOT of people. They aren't perfect, nor do they claim to be. This didn't deserve national attention. The mother had another way - a much better way - to handle it, and the fact that she didn't choose that way tells me she is probably a loud-mouth, problem parent. But, of course, that is simply speculation on my part as well.

I doubt they did either. But in that little kids mind the picture was probably much different. When you're suddenly made to feel different -- especially at that age -- you feel like the eyes of the whole world are beating down on you.

 

:lol::lol: Sorry, but that statement is so over-the-top that's it's downright funny.

 

7 year olds care about snacks.

Maybe that is the way it is in NKY!

:lol::lol: Sorry, but that statement is so over-the-top that's it's downright funny.

 

7 year olds care about snacks.

 

:thumb: When I was coaching 7 year olds we couldn't get them to get in the game if they thought they might miss a gatorade break. The topic of conversation during games was what snack was brought.

7 year olds care about snacks.

That is so true. Lose by 15 runs, no biggie. But forget to bring the snacks and you are the spawn of satan.

The article simply says he was "benched" for dramatic effect. I'll guess that the league instituted a rule about concession participation and a subsequent suspension. So, I'm highly doubting that the LL pres. went jogging over to the dugout advising little Johnny's manager that he couldn't play. I'll guess that the parent was informed of his suspension.

And the line about "I thought I could make it up at a later date by mommy"............okay.