I hope my kids do well in baseball but I have figured out that I cannot:
- Make them run faster
- Make them throw harder
- Make them hit the ball harder
- Make them love the game
- Make them grow taller and stronger
- Influence recruiters or scouts
I can:
- Make their life miserable by trying to control something I cannot
- Look at them as only ballplayers and forget who they really are
- Encourage, be supportive but still provide honest feedback
- Enjoy the ride while it lasts.
- Remind them hustle and attitude are something they control
My older son is getting the opportunity to play beyond HS but at this point, I'm guessing he has less baseball in front of him than he has behind him. I'm never going to be happy when he watches a 3rd strike or makes a bonehead play, but I've learned to appreciate just being out at the ballpark more as his time gets shorter. I've toed the "that parent" line a hundred times, probably even crossed it a time or two but you live and learn. Honestly, spending time on this site has help mold me as a baseball parent because I've learned from the mistakes of others before I made them myself.