Baseball Toughness

Hi Sport

:-D Your post brought back a delightful memory for me. My own son liked to do that. In fact he made some of the most dramatic crashes I ever saw, along with appropriate sound effects. (grenades going off, ray-guns blasting etc.) I guess I figured he just liked to dramatize whatever was running through his imagination at the moment. (question what wonderful, or not so wonderful perhaps, worlds are our kids living in between balls hit to them?

To wit: it has been my experience that some kids we think of as "tough" are simply sort of stoic in their approach to life. Others are naturally more dramatic, or more imaginative, or more demonstrative.

Probably you will need to have a quiet conversation with him soon. Gently and lovingly, explain that the other kids don't know what to make of him sometimes, and since he probably wants their respect, he will have to sorta' keep some of his feelings inside. ("Just kinda' play pretend you are Clint Eastwood.")

Of course, all the moms might think I am being a sexist, or that I am simply advising you to continue that (frustrating to them) "uncommunicativeness" to yet another generation of men. Fact is though, he has to compete in the world of men someday, and certain overt expressions of communicating distress are just not acceptable. (breaking into tears and wailing when a customer refuses to sign a contract, simply will not be the best approach for a man.)

Having said all that, he has a long time to prepare for those days, so simply begin the process gently, and feed it in as he grows older. Also reassure him that he does have the right to his own interior life. Let him be a kid.

Best regards
Kenneth Bean