And not in a good way, either! I am now part of an inner-drama-clique-filled-kids-sports-team. I used to smile at my friend’s tales of her kids’ team drama because I had never experienced it, even in all the many years we’ve been with the league.
Well. This year is different. We got drafted onto another team, and we had to leave the team we’ve been with a few years. Two other families came with us, so at least we had that comfort, but everyone else was a virtual stranger.
The first game proved how different we were from the other parents. We cheered for every child who came up to bat, and when they struck out, we continued to cheer. The other parents were silent, and it was pretty chilly in the stands.
As the year wore on, there were whispered comments, and cold shoulders. The other moms I knew before and I (and our families) sat together and continued on as usual, because that’s what we knew to do. We carried on cheering and laughing and talking, because I wanted my child to know that this was a game to enjoy, and that meant the good times didn’t stop on the playing field! Finally, after about 3/4 of the way through the season, we all started interacting more, talking about more personal things, laughing together… It’s been really nice!
After this past week, I learned that someone(s) has been talking crap about us, saying that we’re a ‘clique,’ that we aren’t going back to the same league next year, and that we’re boycotting the end-of-the-year party. And this was according to the league president!
I was beyond hurt when I heard that. As being the outside member of cliques during school and then, as an adult, distancing myself from friends when cliquishness became obvious, to hear that I was considered a part of one really hurt. Not to mention the fact that I knew if the coach heard we were boycotting the party, he’d be upset and hurt! To me that would show complete disrespect on our part, and despite the recent issues we’ve had, we totally respect him!
Anyway, according to the president (now), she didn’t ‘hear’ that from anyone, but was rather speaking about what she was afraid was going to happen. Bullshit, but whatever. None of it is true, and they’ll know that when we show up to the party all smiles. All the other stuff? Well, it’s just making me work twice as hard to show that I am not that person and never will be!
