Childish drama
Thursday, April 13, 2023
I’m am too old to deal with the immature drama of grown ass adult women.
What. A, Day. I have zero patience for drama. I want no part of it. I do not go to my daughter’s softball games to make friends. I do not go to my daughter’s softball games to gossip with the other parents. No. I go to watch and support my daughter. However, I have no problem defending myself, if need be.
There are two softball mom’s that have a reputation for starting drama. I’ve known these women for the better part of 10 years, since their daughter’s have been playing softball with my daughter since little league. I’ve done my best to stay away from them, being cordial when necessary. Now that the girls all play high school ball together, I planned on doing much of the same. Today, that plan went to hell.
I was asked to keep the scorebook, it’s an app called “Game Changer”. I’ve been doing Game Changer for years. I’m pretty damned good at it. I’ve taught others how to use it. I’m also not one of those mom’s who cook the books to benefit their child. If there’s an error, I’m going to put that error down on the player that made the error, even if it is my own child. Errors are often judgment calls. A ball is thrown. A ball is missed. I have to determine if it was a throwing error or a catching error. So, when that kind of play happened today, the shortstop threw a catchable ball to first base, but first base missed it, missing the out and allowing a score, that error was placed on the first baseman. Well, she happened to be one of those mom’s kid and NOT happy about my call.
The thing with this mom, I’ll call her “A”, is that she will not confront you face to face. She is VERY passive aggressive. She was on the bleachers behind me, very loudly repeating, “That was a throwing error. That wasn’t a catching error.” Over and over to everyone around her. She then went up to her friend, I’ll call her “D”, who was sitting beside me, and she stood with her back to me and VERY loudly asked D, “That was a throwing error. Don’t you think it was a throwing error?” D agreed and so A went back to the bleachers and kept at it. Three plays later and she hadn’t stopped. I said, very clearly, “I have no desire for this drama. I don’t need to do the book. I have no problem handing it off to someone else. I’m too old for this drama.” To which D said, “What drama? No one said anything to you. And it’s your call, you’re the one keeping the book.” I said that it wasn’t what was said but the way in which it was said. And I left it at that.
After the game, which the girls were absolutely crushed, I went over to next field to the JV game, where Amanda was watching her daughter play. A and Amanda have a bad history, and knows how D is. I was venting to her about it, when I remembered that I needed to sign my daughter out so I could drive her home (it was an away game). I then walked over to the dugout to get the sign-out sheet from the coach. When I walked up, I saw A and D complaining to the coach. I didn’t even have to hear to know what was being said. A and D had their backs to me, and I came up behind them and listened. When they turned and noticed me, A immediately backed up and stopped talking, but D doubled down. I said, in a calm and even tone, “If you have something to say, say it to my face.” Which prompted D to call me a bitch. That caused Coach O to get in between us and tell D to leave immediately.
Later, I received a text from Coach O apologizing for what happened, saying that she would like it if I continue to do the book because she trusts me over the others. She also scheduled a mandatory parents’ meeting for Monday. I also received a text from the assistant athletic director, whom I am friends with, to also apologize for A and D’s behavior.
Why can’t people act their age?