Stages Men Go Through in Life

I'll spare you from a detailed explanation of why I bothered with this.  It stemmed from lengthy discussion with one of my nephews.  It's my own view of the stages/phases most American men go through in life.  I'm spread between stage 7 and 10

1. Pre-teen
2. Early teens (single, pre-dating)
3. Late teens (single+dating)
4. The 20s (single or domestic partner)
5. 30 and Single, or Married w/no Kids
6. First Child: Baby..Toddler
7. Child pre-teen
8. Child early teen
9. Child late teen
10. Child becomes yound adult (20s)
11. Child has kids: Grandparent stage
12. Retirement stage
13. Elder stage

What's interesting to me is that it seems that people in one stage are immune to unsolicited advice from other stages.  Each stage feels they have it the hardest in life and that no other stages can understand their struggle, even if the others are in later stages.

Dear Baseball Parents…

I posted this on my Facebook page also, but I thought it might be suitable here as well…

Here's a few tips for baseball parents attending their children's games.

- Before shouting obscenities at the home plate umpire, watch the catcher's arm. The strike zone isn't just high-to-low, it's also inside the batter's box lines. If you see the catcher reach across or reach out, it was probably a ball. Get over it.

- If you don't like how your team is coached, coach it yourself. Otherwise: STFU

- If you don't like how your games are officiated, volunteer to be an umpire or ref. Otherwise: STFU

- Don't park near the field borders if it's even remotely possible to hit a ball out there (unless you don't care about your windshield).

- A great player is a "utility" player. Not someone who insists on playing one position all the time. It's definitely not someone who has a tantrum if they can't play that position even one time.

- Keep your kid's age in mind at all times. Don't stress them out about statistics and averages and performance when they're 9, 10 or 11. Encourage them. Support them. But make it fun. Remember FUN? You do remember FUN right?

- Baseball practice is not Daycare. Stick around. Show them you care.

- If you can't make it to the game or practice, call or text someone so they know.

Thank you!