Emo Mommy on Sports Psychology

As a psych tech I'm always interested in how psychology relates to random day to day things and how we react to them -- for example, sports.  While there are numerous studies on how psychological factors affect performance for athletes, the fans, too, experience hormonal surges when cheering for their favorite teams.  

Oakland A's fans know this feeling all too well after following an amazing 2012 season in which they claimed first place in the American League West (LET'S GO OAKLAND!!!!).

My boys and I

As a kid I fondly remember getting ice cream at Baskin Robbins served in a cute little A's batting helmet.  I even convinced my dad to buy me an A's flip up watch (wish I still had it!), but I gotta say I didn't really feel a true passion for the sport until I became a mom.  As a single mom, I worry sometimes that I'm not equipped to influence my son in, you know, masculine ways, but I found that more importantly watching A's baseball together teaches him the value of achieving big things with very little money, especially when expectations from others are low; a true underdog story.

 

When it comes to baseball my son could've went in several directions as far as teams go.  His older cousins are HUGE Yankees fans.  His dad is a Padres fan and takes him to games often.  Living near the bay, I wouldn't even have been mad, in fact I would've totally understood if he was a Giants fan.  Not only are they a great team, but those panda hats are awesome!  What can I say, I guess he likes elephants better :)

Yesterday at the 2012 Oakland A's FanFest, I choked back tears when he met his favorite player, Cocoa Crisp along with the crowd pleasing and loveable Stomper.  Just seeing how full of energy and happy he was despite hours of walking and waiting in long lines made my heart swell and my eyes water.  He's halfway done with Kindergarten, but watching him yesterday covered from head to toe in A's gear from his loving (and die hard A's fans) aunties, I finally see a little boy instead of a baby. (Sniff, sniff).

Speaking of baby, I'm a big wuss when it comes to relief pitcher Sean Doolittle, a lefty just like my son as you can see which hand he's holding his donut hole in.  When he came into the scene, closing out games against the Yankees, I became mesmerized with the odd way that he holds up his glove to his neck before he pitches.  It wasn't until later that I learned how truly talented and undervalued he is.  Through out a number of injuries that almost ended his career, he went from being a first baseman to a pitcher.  

As if that story wasn't touching enough, during a Q&A session Doolittle stated that he was an Air Force brat and that if he never became a baseball player he would've joined the military (be still my heart)!  And get this.. turns out he's the great nephew of the famous General/Doctor James Harold "Jimmy" Doolittle (Alec Baldwin played him in Pearl Harbor)  of the United States Army Air Forces (this was before the Air Force was its own branch #WWII) .  Whaaaaaat?!  Crazy.  Dubbed one of the unsung heroes of the A's, he's definitely my favorite.

How cool is this?!  Doolittle stated that his dad was stationed "in the area" when he was 3-5 years old.  With no other AF bases open at the time (or since) in our area, it had to be Travis AFB.  Hua!  (Pic tweeted by Sean Doolittle).

For many reasons I wish I would've gotten into baseball before I became a mom.  Loving sports and identifying with your favorite team is not only exciting, but it gives you a sense of community, keeps you from alienating yourself when times are hard (which is something I tend to do).  I was pleasantly surprised to observe Kahlil and other small kids at the the FanFest making eye contact.  It makes me smile wondering what they would've said to each other if their parents weren't frantically trying to get them from one autograph table to the next.  One kid even tugged at his jacket just to say hi to him.  Isn't that just awesome?

On the drive home I asked my son how he felt.  He thought about it for a minute, then said, "Before I only could see Cocoa Crisp up close on TV... But today... Right now... I feel SUPER!"  Pretty much summed up how I felt too.

Celebrating with the fam.  
A special birthday shout out and thanks to Rosan dela Cruz, one of the biggest A's fanatics I know, for taking us to FanFest... You will never know how special this day was for Kahlil!

Have a super week, all.

K Bye!

In living color

Yesterday, a group of our friends and I (go Team Rainbow Brite!!!!) did the Color Vibe in Vallejo, California.  By the end of the run we were beautiful masterpieces, covered from head to toe in dyed cornstarch.  Definitely the most fun 5k I've ever done.

After an interesting shower, we attended my niece's 12th birthday at Jump Highway -- a trampoline heaven  where Ryan dislocated two joints in his pinky finger after doing a back flip :(

Poor Ryan.  I'm just thankful his injury isn't keeping him from walking, like in 2011 when he fractured his right heel and then again in 2012 when he tore his left  Achilles tendon.  I can't begin to tell you how difficult those two years were for him (for us). 

Looking back I realize we passed a number of tests that have allowed us to mature and grow in our relationship.  Through the frustrations (and staying in a lot) we learned how to lighten up, found a love for Scrabble, started cooking together, got into Grey's Anatomy and Glee :)  He even bought a guitar.

Life is fickle.  Enjoy the colors.

K Bye!

A High Thanksgiving

Started my favorite holiday right by running a 5k in the Nitro Turkey Run  in beautiful Point Pinole with great friends.  In support of the Foodbank for Contra Costa and Solano County, this family friendly run is fun for all ages, and when I say all ages, I mean I was pushing myself trying to keep up with small children and folks twice my age :)

The kiddies before the Little Turkeys Race, and me with my motivation -- Maria, Farrah, and Z.  Image from Farrah Kawakami

The race was absolutely breath taking... and the views were nice too ;)  I haven't been very good at keeping up with my running, so I'm counting this run as the beginning of a chain of 'em until I reach my ultimate goal.  Distance running is a lot different than the standards I have to meet for the military.  While it's a lot more enjoyable in my eyes, it also takes a different kind of training and mentality. 

First stretch by the ocean.  Felt like I was in a running photography club with Zoey Deschanel.

Saying goodbye to my Nike Dual Fusion ST's after this run, at least ones with this kind of terrain. Although they are good for people with low arches and excessive pronation, I'd say they're much better for running on a smooth track.  I still love them (with their cute neon pink, green, and gray color scheme) but will reserve them for work shoes and/or running around the block.

This was right after conquering a massive hill.  I told myself if this turkey guy WITH a stroller could do it, I BETTER do it.

They say runners get a certain "high" also known as the second wind; a feeling of euphoria experienced when endorphins are released during physical activity.  I love it!  It always seems to kick in right after the moment I just want to give up.. as long as I keep going that is.  It helped to get me to a place where I could meditate and pray for all that I am thankful for.  I was that weirdo that was smiling and tearing up during the third hill. 

During the last half, especially after running up the hills, I just wanted to walk!  But I stuck with this gentleman and made it to the end at a steady pace.  I wonder if he knew? 

Speaking of high....... LOL!

Mom's beautiful vase

True story!  I walked in my parents' house, unfinished ceviche in my hand, asking for a couple lemons from their tree.  Mom shows me this... ahem... vase and says, "Isn't it pretty?"  I was SPEECHLESS.  All I could do was look at my dad, like was this really happening???  All he could do was shake his head.  Was my mom using angry sarcasm after finding it in my brother's room???  But wait, he doesn't smoke... does he??? OMG!!!!  She continues,  "I found it!!  Right outside the grocery store!"  Grandma chimes in, "Yah!! Eet's so prrrittty, it's antik!  People pay lots ob mahney por dat!"  O  M  G.  Long story short, it's still in my mom's kitchen waiting for the right kind of bud flower.  

Cousin Lyle got the party going!

I LOVE MY FAMILY!!!!  Never a dull moment, that's for sure.  Thanksgiving started being my favorite holiday when I came back to California after my first term in the military.  I was pleasantly surprised to find that my family had started a new tradition.  During the blessing of the meal, we each say something we are thankful for.  I can hardly get through it without getting watery eyed, especially this year.

Happy Thanksgiving to you!

K Bye!