First communion customs

[conorkilleen]

Originally Posted by edgeee

which is exactly why i want TG to start a trend. any child who never gets to play wiffle ball is a child deprived.
all it takes is one ball, one bat, and two kids.

Why 2 kids? I used to play by myself when my brother was doing something else. We has a huge yard and I would throw the ball up in the air and see how far I could hit it. Did that with tennis balls as well. I got my hide tanned by my mother a few times for loosing so many of them (my mother played a lot of tennis).

Soccer balls a dime a dozen here in Mexico. I would guess that every boy here has at least one or two. A soccer ball to me is not a good gift. Good luck trying to find a wiffle ball bat set here.

my 2 cents and along the lines of what Posh said...a book is the best gift and/or board games. You can get a board game here for less than 500 pesos

[Mr. P Mosh]

Now a board game would be cool as well... I got a chess set and scrabble in some birthdays... got lots of fun with them.

[TundraGreen]

Thanks everyone. I went with a jigsaw puzzle, a Harry Potter book and a Rubik's cube.

[mickisue1]

Originally Posted by Mr. P Mosh

With a soccer ball, you don't even need another kid (and I said it as someone raised in Monterrey, where baseball is still sort of popular, still, soccer all the way).

I'm currently atheist but had a first communion when I was 10 as well, I don't remember getting many gifts, just some money and clothes, I don't think gifts are a must... but maybe a book would be a good and original gift (maybe the first Harry Potter book or something like that).

My parents gave me a bride doll, to go with the white dress and veil that little girls wear for the ceremony.

From assorted relatives I got crucifixes, pictures of Mary, etc. No money, that I recall. It was the first big party where I was the center of attention, and I wasn't quite sure how to handle it. With my mom's 5 siblings, and MY 5 sibs, there were a lot of cousin/sib parties, and the grown ups always had New Year's Eve at one or another house, where we were banned.

I haven't been to a first communion in a long time, though, not since I decided that a Church that put someone as evil as the religious ed nun in charge, who told my kids they were from a broken home, was no place for me or them.

[Quetza]

Originally Posted by TundraGreen

Thanks everyone. I went with a jigsaw puzzle, a Harry Potter book and a Rubik's cube.

Good choices! I would be concerned about the kid already owning the book though. (edit: Can't believe I said that, one can never have too many books!) And, now you'll have to teach him how to solve the Rubik's cube I hate those things... Rubik is the worst cubes brand.


And how does wiffle ball works? I don't think I've ever played that

[edgeee]

Originally Posted by Quetza

. . .And how does wiffle ball works? I don't think I've ever played that

ah, where to begin?
wiffle ball is a spin-off from baseball, as is softball, but better for young kids.
a softball is not really soft, and much too big for small hands.

a wiffle ball is about the size of a baseball, but it's made of soft plastic.
it's hollow, white in color, and one half of the surface has holes in it.
the bat is also soft plastic and hollow. neither weighs much at all.

the ball won't break windows, and won't travel as far, due to very little mass.
and it's almost impossible to be hurt by being struck by the ball.
i suppose the bat would hurt some, but only a stinging type, no bleeding, no broken bones.

since the bat and ball are so light, even small kids can play, 5-6 yrs old is fine.

a number of factors, mostly the holes, make it possible to pitch the ball in wicked ways.
it will curve like crazy, and experienced players can do fantastic things with it.

so, it's great for all ages - i still played as an adult - and it's as safe as sports can be.

any baseball fan can adapt the rules to suit the situation, i.e. use a backyard for a diamond.
(T.G., the diamond is what the infield is called.)
use whatever works for home plate and the three bases, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.

one-on-one goes something like this:

typically, home plate is in front of a fence or wall so no one has to go chase the ball after each pitch.
the strike zone is the width of home plate, and goes from the batter's knees to mid-chest high.
i'm gonna trust everyone to know about the 3 outs per inning, 3 strikes is an out, and so on.
an umpire is good to have, but not required. works good with 3 kids, the ump gets to play the winner.

some ground rules must be established, such as regarding singles, doubles, triples and homeruns,
usually based on how far a batted ball travels in the air.
the baselines to first and third establish fair or foul territory.

team A, home team, starts by pitching to the visitors, team B, at the bat.
ground balls, in fair territory, must be fielded by the pitcher, and then thrown at the batter.
if the batter can reach first base before the fielder/pitcher can hit him with the ball, he's safe.
if the thrown ball hits him first, the batter is out.
batter goes back to bat again with or without an 'imaginary' runner on first base.

and so on from there, much like baseball, except for the imaginary runner part.
this is how i remember it from 50 years ago, so the official rules may vary quite a bit.

there is a lot about it online, including the official site and complete rules,
but the rules are often just a starting point, adjustable to suit the players' needs.
and there are many youtube videos to look at.
it is amazing what an expert can do with the ball.
Wiffle Ball is a trademark, but knock-offs are nearly as good, and here i can find them at the dollar store.

as for futbol, personally, i can't see how anyone can really enjoy playing or watching a sport
that only allows the goalie to use his hands.
it must have been invented by thieves who had their hands cut off.

[Mr. P Mosh]

Originally Posted by edgeee

as for futbol, personally, i can't see how anyone can really enjoy playing or watching a sport
that only allows the goalie to use his hands.
it must have been invented by thieves who had their hands cut off.

It's so simple.... too simple everybody can play it, you just need to kick a ball, but for those who likes challenges master it is so hard you need to practice it practically daily and there's always great players around to play with (in Mexico at least)... the best of two worlds.

[stilltraveling]

Originally Posted by conorkilleen

Soccer balls a dime a dozen here in Mexico.

While soccer balls in general are everywhere, a brand-name soccer ball, especially Nike or Adidas (official sponsor of the national team), is a prized possession for any tween/teen boy in Mexico. I've given several and their eyes light up like giving a car to an 18-year-old. Conspicuous consumption even exists on the football pitch. Official jerseys are also always appreciated. It makes them stand out among all the knockoff jerseys out there. Everyone wants a little bit of pro gear.

[mickisue1]

Originally Posted by TundraGreen

Thanks everyone. I went with a jigsaw puzzle, a Harry Potter book and a Rubik's cube.

I think you nailed it, Will.

At least, if any of my boys were still 10, they would have loved all three!

[Longford]

Originally Posted by edgeee

which is exactly why i want TG to start a trend. any child who never gets to play wiffle ball is a child deprived.
all it takes is one ball, one bat, and two kids.

In the Mexican culture, a soccer ball would be far more appropriate than a wiffle ball and bat, a gift which think will be appreciated.