Henry vs Fireworks 0-2

Baseball season is starting, which means Aaron will try to watch, write and see as many games as possible. Last year Henry went to a Royals game and had a major meltdown because the fireworks scared him. He was still talking about it until a few weeks ago until I suggested ear plugs and suddenly he got very excited about going to a Royals game. This last Saturday was a double-header of sorts. First the Royals played the Angles (at least that's what Henry told me), then the Royals AA team played against the AAA team. Sounded good to me because everybody knows that this season the Royals are going to be bad, but they have some strength in their minor league teams, which means in a few years they could actually be great--- or good (we got to tone that down a bit, um they are the Royals after all). Looking at that statement I just made shows me one thing... I actually listen to my husband with his sports mumbo jumbo. Everyone does not know this, but I do.

Anyway, we bought a pair of ear plugs for Henry and he said they were perfect. We got to the stadium when the first game was ending and unfortunately for Henry, but fortunately for many fans, the Royals won. So what happens when the Royals win? Yup, fireworks. Henry had his ear plugs in, the crowd was loud and he never even heard the fireworks. But, he saw them! He seemed okay for a little bit and even gave me a thumbs up, but about 5 minutes later he was begging to go home. He said he didn't like the fireworks and acknowledged that he couldn't hear them. He said they weren't his favorite color. His whole body was tense and any time the announcer said anything, he clung closer. It's so hard. As a mother, I want to comfort him, but I also want to teach him that things are fine and that he is over-reacting and he needs to learn how to calm himself. As a person, I just wanted to enjoy the game. Both roles seem to fail and I gave up and took him home. Urgh, so frustrating.

Not sure where this leaves the future of baseball games, but outlook not good. It sounds so nice for Aaron to take Henry to an afternoon game while I'm working and they have good sporty bonding time. Guess it'll have to be Wii sporty bonding time for now.