About Tennis...

In March, the boys high school tennis team put on a clinic for kids. It was 3 days, 3 hours a day, and like $25 per kid. How could I not do it. I will admit...it wasn't the best - but they hit the kids balls, and the kids had fun - so in the end it was worth the $75. All of my kids were mad at me for signing them up. In fact, Kyle told me while I was visitng my favorite friend Erin, that he was going to play professional football - so he didn't need to play tennis. How do you tell your kid...look, it's not going to happen...luckily, Erin knew the exact thing to say (she always does). She told Kyle - "Well, you have to learn to play both, and when you play professional football, you don't have to play tennis anymore." See? Perfect. Anyways, my reasons for wanting them to play - is for a few reasons...
1. Tennis is a gentleman's sport. Not many sports are - and I think it's important for kids to have to keep their cool...compliment an opponents good shot...and be gentleman like.
2. Tennis is a sport you can play your entire life. A few weeks ago - all my brothers were in town. My WHOLE family played tennis. Parents, siblings, spouses. It was so much fun. Who can say that when their whole family was in town they all spent HOURS playing a sport? When I worked at the tennis club during high school, I met MANY old people who would play almost daily. When Troy's sister and her husband come - we always have a blast playing doubles.
3. Great exercise.
4. It takes using your head. There is a lot of strategy in tennis - and accuracy...even if you don't hit the ball super hard - if you are accurate, you MAY be able to hold your own.

I know there are probably more...but for now, that's what I can think of. The problem is - I can't teach my own kids how to play. They don't listen to me. The other problem is - there is snow on the courts for almost half the year, and indoor courts are super expensive. There isn't even really a place within a 30 minute drive I can take my kids for lessons...next summer, I am really going to look into lessons...unless my brother, David, wants to do it?

Here are a few photos from way back in March...
Here's my favorite one...I just love it!
Nice form, Jake...
Kristin viewed it more of a social event...which is fine for her age...