Coaching/Parenting

Just finished up another year of coaching baseball. Truthfully, I was hoping to avoid coaching this year, but since I do it every year, they called me and asked me to do it after I did not initially volunteer. I do usually enjoy it. And, I'm sure I would get really frustrated if I did not do it and someone who knew nothing about baseball ended up coaching my kids. I was reflecting on how I usually coach the kids. I notice that I tend to try and be extra encouraging to some of the kids that may not be very athletic and struggle, and I also tend to be somewhat hard on the kids that I know are capable of playing well. Of course, I am hardest on my own kids. Considering these things, I was reflecting on what things bring out the best in different kids. Am I right to go easy on some of them and be harder on the others? I don't think I am unfair with any of them. It also made me reflect on parenting and how I try to correct my children and the standards I set for them. I know I can be really hard on them sometimes, but it is out of love and out of an expectation that they are capable of behaving a certain way or achieving certain things. It is an ongoing process, and just as I expect them to improve, I have to adapt and try and improve myself. And sticking with the "theme" of my blog, we're working hard at it, but we're certainly not "there yet"!