Things like this

It"s things like this that are the subtle keys to fatherhood. The actions taken by the dad that enable the healing and growing of the greater good... the entire family structure.

Playing catch with your kids. So cliche. No one but actors with a Tim Robbins smile are actually caught in the act of doing this. Most dads have though, at least on one occasion. Don't get all high-and-mighty, Even I, the father of two girls, have gone through this act; not because I'm super-rad, I am compelled to do so once every year or so. I like to crouch down and give them that same big target-of-a-mitt, time and again, to perfect a throw... just like a catcher.

However, the key is to make it a challenge on some level to myself. I use a catcher's mitt on my right hand which makes me learn some finesse while throwing with the off-hand.

But, you see. there are no left-handed catchers, therefore no right-handed mitts. They are as rare as an EMT dispatch call without "vomitous".

Think about it: A player with a right-handed catcher's mitt throw's with their left hand (the quick throw to second base is the most common). But the majority of batters will be standing right in front of that throw. So there are no left-handed catcher's, therefore the catcher's mitt for the right hand is pretty much non-existent.

But I have one. It's a Rawlings from "the sixties" I guess. My dad gave it to me about 15 years ago and he had it when he was a kid or something. Anyway, I gave it some Langlitz leather conditioner tonight for its first "drink" in half-a-millenium. Man it looks good and "old-timey".

I should throw the ball with the kids more often.