Fine Line between being proud and bragging

Lefty ...

I think many of us have 'been there wondered that' and I have found that it is best to find a place to vent that pride that is not even in the same neighborhood as parents of boys on the team.

This a good place to express your joy for your son's accomplishments ... so you found the place.

It's a bit like that old Coco Channel advice --- once you're dressed to go out, remove one accessory;
dial it back in front of the players/parents on both teams.

Respond to a comment, but don't initiate the conversation: "I'm very pleased he had a good outing." Big grins are always appropriate, though I recommend them mostly in the direction of your player. (Sometimes parents don't remember that the player pitched/hit/fielded well....all we did was watch well )

Teams can be tough on the opposite side of the fence, and empathy and foresight are important. For example, your son doing well represents a threat in PT for every other pitcher and (by extention) their parents. And every pitcher also has bad outings, which can be tougher to take if you've celebrated the good ones too much.

Old baseball saying --- don't let the highs be too high or the lows be too low ---- goes for parents, too!

Good luck to your player --- got lots of fun ahead!

Haha! I was going to say the same, but Orlando beat me to it... Never let the highs get too high or the lows get too low. Baseball is a humbling game. When my boys did well, I just breathed a sigh of relief and realized that the next day was a whole new ball game, so to speak!

Good advice here - share all you want outside of the circle of your son's teammate and their parents. Otherwise just say "thanks" if anyone notices and don't worry about it if they don't... because they did, they just don't want to mention it! Then go home and dance the happy dance all around the house!

You need to find a good friend who understands the in's and out's of sports that you can talk to. My good friend is a golf mom who we can talk to each other about our son's accomplishments without sounding like bragging.

It's also good to have that friend to talk to when also husband's can put a DAMPER on our good proud feelings with their negative comments. Sometimes they can be a little too hard on their sons? Not always and not all of them.....

Curveball - you make a good point. My husband is frequently the "good job, BUT" person in our house. I've tried for years to teach him to stop at the "good job" part and leave the "But" for another time, but it just ain't happenin! So find a good friend who can share your joy and never, ever even thinks "BUT"!

Just noticed that Mary Ann shared her wisdom on this thread just a few days ago... sigh. Proud momma.