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63 replies

D-Day and counting!

observer44observer441,000+ posts
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quote:
Originally posted by Bum:
Bum, Jr. is shipped off in 3 days. I can hardly believe it. 18 years ago I remember buying (and half-smoking) a cherry cigar I purchased from 7-Eleven, celebrating the birth of my first born male child. I swelled with pride, and choked with stupidity. When he began to speak, his first word was "hammer". And he would say it in succession as he pounded on his blocks. I hear the echo now, "Hammer, hammer, hammer.."

At the age of 3, Bum, Jr. would wait patiently every morning in the living room, waiting to bid his father adieu before he left for work. We'd talk about legos, Winnie the Pooh, or his favorite cereal. We'd sing songs together and hug.

At 6, I enrolled him on a coach-pitch team. His very first game, in the first inning, the coach put him on the pitcher's mound. I have the moment on tape. He raised his hands in triumph, and excitedly exclamed "Yahhh! I'm the pitcher!"

Together, we've been through 9-11, countless scrapes and bruises, have built make-believe ballfields and a doghouse together, and have forged a relationship tested by time. In baseball, we have seen countless failures, have dusted ourselves off after three hour monotonous practices on a dirt infield, weathered April snow and August heat, and have seen him fail countless times only to pick himself up again and become even better.

He may not know it now, distracted as he is by cell phones, his girlfriend, My Space and the relentlessness of his busy life, but he is my son. We love each other, and nothing will ever change that.

So, with simultaneous sadness and pride, it is is time to let go..


Very well said...tugs the heart for real...changes for certain..

...both end and beginning...bittersweet moment...them leaving is the best thing in the world for them (and we know and celebrate that)...and simultaneoulsy the hardest one for us as it is an end and we feel that in a way that only parents can...

Cool 44
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C CaBB1,000+ posts
We took son to the airport today and he's off to college. We were supposed to drive 12 hours next Thursday to drop him (and his stuff) off. Was looking forward to a nice long drive with him to ourselves. He decided to go early to help with a fundraiser at school.

In a way it was a blessing because I didn't have time to really work up my emotions. It helped that he went on a 2 week vacation this summer so we started to get used to him not being home.

So, we'll drive to his school next week with his stuff and try to keep smiling through the orientation activities.

It does help to read this and know that lots of parents are feeling the same about now. And it helps to know we can come here when we're feeling down. It is good to hear from the experienced parents that we will make it through this tough transition.

Young gun dad- hang in there, we all feel your pain!
Last edited by CaBB
KrakatoaKrakatoa1,000+ posts
We landed in San Antonio a few hours ago, went and had dinner down on the Riverwalk.......man, it all started sinking in. It's SO different from the small military community he grew up in overseas! We have a few more nights where we get to say "goodnight, Tristan" in person.......very strange days! But he's excited right now and that's all that matters!
C CaBB1,000+ posts
Krak- I was especially thinking about you and your family because of the long distance your son will be from your family. You are an amazing family to be able to live so far away. Good luck to you guys this week and keep us posted. I was telling my husband tonight how many dads have been posting about how tough it'll be to let go of their college sons. It just shows what close relationships we develop with all the time spent with our bb players.
TPMTPMHSBaseballweb Member since 2003
quote:
Originally posted by Coach May:
Yes its been a long day. I got a big house. Its just got a lot bigger.


So why not just invite us all over for a big party? Big Grin

My son came home for a night to pick up some hurricane supplies and just to hang out with some friends. Many have graduated and home for the weekend, none of them live at home anymore. He didn't come home to see us, though he pretended to ,get a free meal and a place to sleep. Frown

You'll get used to it after awhile, it's a normal process and hurts for awhile but it passes quickly.

I give lots of credit to the Krak family, now that must be tough.

Everyone start taking notice of the thread After High School, yup, it's now after high school! Looking forward to your posts there of your kids new experiences.
Rob KremerRob Kremer1,000+ posts
So many of these posts hit home with me. I have a daughter who will start her soph year at college in two days. So we've been through it once.

And we are exactly one year away from our second and last child going off to college. I look forward to it in some respects, as it will mean a whole new set of challenges and experiences for him.

But I remember the lump in my throat as I drove away from my daughter's dorm last August, and can only imagine how it will be next August with my son.
CM Coach May1,000+ posts
My son is only 40 minutes down the road but it seems like a million miles to be honest with you. He was so excited about school and baseball when he left. He called me today to tell me last night he hung out with all the other freshman players last night and today they played some hoops and went to get something to eat. Tonight they were all going over to some of the upperclassman apartment to hang out as well. Saturday while we were unloading his stuff for his room he got three different text messages from returning players asking him if he was ok and if he needed anything. I thought that was a very nice thing for the coaches to make sure the players checked up on the guys.

I have spent the last several years preparing him for life to the best of my ability. I have worked hard to teach him how to be a man and how to be responsible. The baseball stuff I dont worry about one bit. He will compete and he will be a great team mate. Its the letting go and not having him around to talk to and do things with. But I know that is all part of it. I am very proud of my son and we are very very close. But I know its time for him to go off and make his own way. The fact is he is a lot more prepared for this than I am. Now I have to prepare some more kids and hopefully send a few more off next year.
B 1BDad100+ posts
Numb is a good description. However, after the last text message, it appears she's not numb. Comedians and entertainment for the incoming freshmen. Just like we thought it would be...she's busy as ever and we are sitting here wonderin how it went by so fast.

Do you suppose it will be all better before we send 1Bson off next year??? Roll Eyes
DB Danny Boydston1,000+ posts
Although it's tough right now, it slowly but surely gets easier. When the young one left last year (our only child) I have to be honest, I wasn't sure it was the right decision. I thought maybe he should have gone to the local community college just across the street. He could still get an education, play for a pretty decent baseball program and still live at home.
Of course that's not reality. He was a young man. He wanted to get out on his own. And in his mind he was ready to tackle life. Well, a year later, he is going into his sophomore year more of a man than we could have ever imagined. After his freshman year, he and a couple of other second year players rented a house and stayed in their college town over the Summer. He held down a Summer job with a minor league baseball team, he played a little bit of Summer ball, and also went to Summer school. If there were any doubts my wife and I had about our son going out on his own, they all have been erased.
Being only 35-40 minutes away, he still finds time to stop by and say hello.

I only say these things to let the parents who have not been through this before know that although it is hard, this first year will be in my opinion the biggest year to watch and see how much your son matures. You will find out just how good of a job you did in raising him. And if your son is fortunate enough to be playing baseball at this level, the pride that will engulf you when he takes the field for the first time at the collegiate level will be visible for all to see.

To all D-Day parents, it only gets better.
Last edited by Danny Boydston
P puma1500+ posts
Am I the first one to say that it really does not get better? Unbelievable, I just sent mine off for his third year in college and it is not any easier than it was the first year, or the first time I dropped him off at Kindergarten. My eyes are filled with tears, yet my heart is filled with pride for the fine young man he is becoming. BUT...it still doesn't become easy!!
YoungGunDadYoungGunDadHSBaseballWeb member since 2005
I'm just going to be flat out honest here. I truly and sincerely hearing from everyone of you and what you've all had to say about this. It does help to know that our feelings of desperation in him being "there" and we are "here" and we can't see his face every day, or hear him walk thru the door with his keys rattling, or the sound of his truck as he drives up, etc. is being felt by other Dad's and Mom's out here and aren't afraid to share these emotions. Dropping him off at Kindergarten was one thing because we knew he would be home each day, but this is so totally different. I am so proud of him that words can't describe how I feel.

This is just something you can't prepare for no matter how much you think you can, ya know?

EH, thanks for the laugh. I truly needed that.
DB Danny Boydston1,000+ posts
puma,

Mine is only a sophomore and stayed away from home over the Summer. From the day he left his freshman year to this point in mine and his life it has gotten easier him not being here every day. Doesn't mean I miss him any less, just means I know he is growing up and becoming his own man and the pride in that takes a little bit of the pain away.

I guess we all respond differently puma, but I think we both can agree that the love for our kids will never change.
Infield08Infield081,000+ posts
Thoroughly enjoyed a delicious Tex-Mex lunch with Krak and his family today. What a pleasure getting to know them all! A very close-knit family with 3 polite children who put up with a lot of adult "yacking" without complaint. I can only imagine the sadness at leaving KrakSon at Trinity later this week and traveling back "home" across the ocean this coming Saturday, but am glad to be a local resource on whom he can depend! Also just heard that infielddad's son will be one of KrakSon's college coaches. Simply amazing all these HSBBW connections!
KrakatoaKrakatoa1,000+ posts
The pleasure of meeting the Infield08's was all ours! What fantastic people, down to earth, and just as nice as can be. Meeting people like IF08 and her husband really helps to reassure us that our son will have a sincere and caring safety net should he ever need it!

IF08, I will look forward to the future when perhaps our families can sit and watch some games together (and eat more Puffy Tacos!)

Thanks for a great afternoon of dining and chatting.
Last edited by Krakatoa
MN-MomMN-MomHSBaseballWeb Owner
What a touching thread. You all have me tearing up.

Except for EH's post, which made me chuckle: "Ya, well wait for there 3rd year in college. You roll by the college, open the car door and throw them out. LOL"
Big Grin

In our family's case, there is some truth in that! Our youngest will return for his 3rd/sophomore year in about 10 days. I don't think I will cry on the drive home like I did two years ago...but sometimes I miss both him and his older brother at random times, and shed a few tears when no one is looking. But I am happy for both of them, and glad that they don't need Mom and Dad staying in touch on a daily, or even weekly basis. They just need to know we will be there when they come home (or hopefully call us once in a while!) Smile

Julie
Last edited by MN-Mom
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