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This week has come. Leaving home this Thursday for the 7 hr trek to son's college beginning. He, along with many of his classes' recruits, will start Summer II next week. My wife has been all worried about what to pack, etc. My son, not so much. No planning what-so-ever for him. He thinks that things just happen. It's different moving boys into college as compared to girls. He's going real light. And wife is probably packing more than he needs.

 

The Senior HS season didn't turn out as expected. He finished the season with a 5-0 record including a no-hitter against the #1, until middle of playoffs, team in a classification down from ours.  All were basically complete games.  After the last game around the 1st week of April, he said his elbow didn't feel right. Had MRI. Met with a couple of noted Orthos. Turns out he had a mild sprain in elbow. MCL is completely intact. Head Coach accused him of faking an injury. Also accused his college of telling him not to pitch. Much more which is a whole other story. We lost in playoffs so didn't pitch since April. Started rehab and conditioning with a Tom House disciple 1st of June. Up to about 70-80% effort right now. Should know about any further effects in a few weeks when he is up to 90% or more.

 

We've cleaned out the garage. Lots of memories. I have given all the old baseballs, bats, etc away to people with younger baseball players. Kept the gloves,the shirts, caps and maybe one special bat he had growing up (Red Response...it was a great bat). Got to sell a JUGS pitching machine. Seemed strange getting rid of the baseball items. Someone else can enjoy them.

 

As many on here have stated, enjoy it while your son is playing. High school went by way too fast. We will see what the next six weeks, six months, 36 months bring. I hope the college baseball years are as good to my son as most of the previous years. I will see most of it from 7 hrs away but that's okay too. It is his time to soar without being fettered by his parents.

 

Thank you again to the many people on this board who helped him (and me) get to where he's at. I may not have contacted you personally but I read your posts and comments. Gleaned what I thought was pertinent to our family's situation and tried to implement it. At various stages the last 18 months, I have leaned on different ones for advice.

 

Hail State!

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Originally Posted by RedFishFool:

This week has come. Leaving home this Thursday for the 7 hr trek to son's college beginning. He, along with many of his classes' recruits, will start Summer II next week. My wife has been all worried about what to pack, etc. My son, not so much. No planning what-so-ever for him. He thinks that things just happen. It's different moving boys into college as compared to girls. He's going real light. And wife is probably packing more than he needs.

 

The Senior HS season didn't turn out as expected. He finished the season with a 5-0 record including a no-hitter against the #1, until middle of playoffs, team in a classification down from ours.  All were basically complete games.  After the last game around the 1st week of April, he said his elbow didn't feel right. Had MRI. Met with a couple of noted Orthos. Turns out he had a mild sprain in elbow. MCL is completely intact. Head Coach accused him of faking an injury. Also accused his college of telling him not to pitch. Much more which is a whole other story. We lost in playoffs so didn't pitch since April. Started rehab and conditioning with a Tom House disciple 1st of June. Up to about 70-80% effort right now. Should know about any further effects in a few weeks when he is up to 90% or more.

 

We've cleaned out the garage. Lots of memories. I have given all the old baseballs, bats, etc away to people with younger baseball players. Kept the gloves,the shirts, caps and maybe one special bat he had growing up (Red Response...it was a great bat). Got to sell a JUGS pitching machine. Seemed strange getting rid of the baseball items. Someone else can enjoy them.

 

As many on here have stated, enjoy it while your son is playing. High school went by way too fast. We will see what the next six weeks, six months, 36 months bring. I hope the college baseball years are as good to my son as most of the previous years. I will see most of it from 7 hrs away but that's okay too. It is his time to soar without being fettered by his parents.

 

Thank you again to the many people on this board who helped him (and me) get to where he's at. I may not have contacted you personally but I read your posts and comments. Gleaned what I thought was pertinent to our family's situation and tried to implement it. At various stages the last 18 months, I have leaned on different ones for advice.

 

Hail State!

Great story Redfish, thanks for sharing.  I would recommend not selling the pitching machine until he no longer comes home on breaks, you never know

 

As for moving in, the two college essentials for living in a dorm were shower shoes (because EW!) and a microwave with a stash of popcorn, microwavable spaghetti O's containers, easy mac and a box of plastic spoons...you get hungry at night! Everything else can just be figured out later.  Good luck!

Good luck with the move! 

 

It was bittersweet when we moved our son out for his freshman year (JuCo) three years ago - he's now at a D2 university.  We had moved most of his stuff down the month before (off campus apartment) and were just bringing the final stuff down the week or so before school began. Got him officially registered the next day.  Luckily all went well.

 

My wife and I could tell he was nervous as we bought the last few needed items at the local Walmart.  It would be his first time away from home (250 miles) and truly on his own (he did have a roommate) away from us.

 

As we headed home, my wife was a little worried, but I told her, he'll be okay once school starts and baseball practice/workouts begin (which they would in a few days).

 

I do remember having some pangs when we arrived home and I glanced at his now empty room with the various trophies and awards on the shelves.

 

Hard to believe it was three years ago and his final college baseball season is approaching.  Where did the time go?

 

 

RFF, I know exactly what you are going through,  We dropped Nick off a little over 3 weeks ago as classes started 6/8.  I'm not gonna lie, I miss the heck out of that kid.  But, I try not to call or text too much,  I told him I was going to let him have a little space, but he could reach out to me as often as he wanted.  We text about every day.  Really want to keep up with the throwing rehab.  Classes seem to be going well.  I will be thinking of you, but I am sure Parker will do great.  I think it is a big advantage to have them go ahead in the summer and kinda get a lay of the land, so to speak.  Good luck to you guys.  We will see you down the road.

I miss my 2022 already and my wife will have to be institutionalized if he moves more than 60miles away.

 

Congrats OP, it sounds like you've done a great job with your kid. I think I will look back at the time we spend throwing in the yard and hitting in the garage as some of the best time together. We have lots of talking time and baseball is just a time killer while we do so!!

I dont want to take away from my friends topic, but mine will be leaving in a month to go back to school too. The college corner is growing.

 

RFF is one of the most sane and rational dads I have met going through the recruiting and draft process.  We all could learn a lot from him.  

 

I know this is a tough time for many, its tough for all folks whose kids leave home at one time or another. But it will be ok, and when your son comes home for Thanksgiving break, you wont believe its the same boy that you sent away months ago.

 

College baseball is by far is the best IMO, enjoy thr moments.

Last edited by TPM

Congrats RF, glad to hear that elbow is fine and he is getting back on track. I'll be watching some of those SEC games and look for him. We moved Ryley in a few weeks ago and this week is their first full week. He was ready, more then we knew. He said he's coming home this weekend, will be good to see him. As far as the gear and equipment, way to give back and keep the young ones in the game.

Originally Posted by OA5II:

Give your wife 3 days of uninterrupted crying and there is NOTHING YOU CAN SAY that will make her feel better.

 

Don't sell or throw any of it away.  They may not need us to soft toss or throw like we use to; but sometimes they still do.

Best advice here for first year freshmen parents. 

 

RFFDad will have a lump in his gut the whole way home. 

 

Good news is that you won't be making fools of yourselves on an airplane.

 

Best of luck to RFFSon. 

Originally Posted by RedFishFool:
We left this morn. Making detour thru Memphis for a couple of days. Gonna take in AAA Redbirds game tomorrow and then leave for Starkville early Sunday.

Good luck to E. We have several friends with TT connections including kids there so if needs something while he's there, we may be able to help.
Thanks.  I really appreciate it...and good luck to Parker!
 

 

Got back home around 8:30 tonight.

 

Wife cried; son rolled his eyes at her and gave her a hug. It was a big discussion in our house whether she would cry or not. Three of us thought she definitely would. Wife thought she wouldn't. She was mistaken.  he and his teammates got a lot of administrative stuff done today. Some sort of workouts begin at 6AM tomorrow. Classes after that. what little we've heard from him, everything is good. We will see in four weeks or so. 

RFF,

 

Best of luck to P, and welcome to the "funhouse of college baseball".  That 7 hour trip will seem like nothing after the 50th time you do it.  My son was 8 hours away, and I still kick myself for not buying a new or used Hybrid car when my son started in 2011.  We didn't think we'd be going to as many college games or events as we did.....and we were very wrong with our estimages.  Just a thought as your son is getting started with his college career.  BTW....the one thing I do not miss since son graduated is that 8 hour drive.  Never again.

 

Please let us know how things progress and the changes you see in him.  Working with a knowledgeable pitching coach everyday is going to make him better....you'll see.

Originally Posted by fenwaysouth:

Working with a knowledgeable pitching coach everyday is going to make him better....you'll see.

We have been told that he is "raw" by several scouts and coaches. Took me a while to understand that since he's been pitching since he was 9. But I think I understand now.  He appears to be in excellent hands. That was part of the allure of Miss State.

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