Enjoy it while you can

My kids are still below elementary school so I can only imagine. Hang in there.

BaseballByTheYard

quote:

Originally posted by sportsfan5:
I was helping out with the HS softball team today and as I left their field and drove by the baseball field, my car didn't automatically turn in like it has every spring day for the past four years. As much as I love my daughter and love being able to help with her team, I miss baseball and watching my sons play HS baseball. What a great time and I envy all of you who are just entering it.



Have fun, enjoy it and cherish it because one of these days, your car won't automatically turn into the parking lot as you pass the field either.

Great post. I would never ask my son to choose which one he preferred such as high school over travel ball or college ball over high school ball or pro ball over college ball. He and I loved them all equally. Some of the best games I have ever seen in my life were at the high school level. I miss it each spring.

quote:

Originally posted by sportsfan5:
Have fun, enjoy it and cherish it because one of these days, your car won't automatically turn into the parking lot as you pass the field either.

Been saying something similar to the above since my son left HS.
I don't know if others have noticed, just seems like so many folks these days are in a hurry for their sons to grow up, just beginning freshman year and before season even begins dad is emailing or calling coaches and wondering if they should attend camps, or showcases, etc.
Enjoy those early years, they go so quickly, everything will fall into place when the time is right, you'll see.
sportsfan5,
I live literally around the corner from the HS, it was tough the first year son gone, especially the nights the lights are on and you know there's a game going on. Hang in there!

I stop by the little league field every now and again. Haven't been able to bring myself to the HS field yet...

On a lighter note my son that is still playing, is in college about 90 miles away, and we have not missed a game yet.

Still enjoying the ride!

I went to a local little league game last friday for 10yr olds. A co-worker's son was playing and he has been sorta bragging some so I thought I'd go and support him!

It was fun watching them have fun, make faces in the dugout, ask for hot chocolate from the mom's, etc.

Great memories.

It goes fast.

I was fortunate to be able to see almost all of my son's games through high school. I was able to be very involved. I helped coach through age 12, and did whatever I could do to help out with the team - scorekeeper, treasurer, etc., through high school. (I still handle the finances of his former high school team.)

When I first started watching this board, my son was in the 7th grade. So many people have said over the years how fast it goes, and they are absolutely right. I am just thankful that I found this place, read those words, and followed them.

My son now plays baseball 3000 miles away. I will make maybe 10 games this season, probably fewer. I definitely miss watching his games in person (even more so after being back home now after seeing him play three this weekend!)

But I can only imagine how I'd miss it if I didn't know that I was there to smell the roses for his 12 years of youth ball prior to college.

Son is a 2013, so enjoying the ride now. I've already started my 2 year old grandson on hitting off a tee. Actually, he attacks it like Bam Bam on the Flintstones. Close enough for now.

I always enjoy these types of threads, it certainly puts things in perspective. My son is a 2013 and I do find myself caught up in the future.

It's hard to believe his sophomore season will be over in two months. I have a 2015 coming up but he has other interests besides baseball so who knows how long I will be making that turn into the high school baseball parking lot. I can't imagine life without baseball..........ugh!

Is there anything better than watching your kids play baseball?

I too am like warningtrack. I also have a 2013 and find myself thinking of the future. However, son's field is in the same park and next to his old little league field. He lives in a small beachtown who was perenially the whipping boys of little league. However, in 2008, we won the district title and whooped everyone (our teams used to be made fun of, other teams would say we could only surf and not play baseball). It was the proudest moment of my son's baseball career. The league (as most do) placed a huge metal sign with all the kids' names. Everytime I go to his HS games now, I see that sign and look back so fondly to that time, great memories. I imagine I will have much of those same feelings when he leaves HS. The previous posters are correct, life can be so busy, but it's imperative that we stop and stay in the moment every now and then.

quote:

Originally posted by TPM:
I don't know if others have noticed, just seems like so many folks these days are in a hurry for their sons to grow up,

I've said this for some time, I was always worried that we were constantly rushing to get to the next level and not fully appreciating and enjoying where we were at the time.

In LL, we couldn't wait to get to travel ball. When in travel ball, we couldn't wait to get to high school. In high school, we couldn't wait to get to college.

Well now, my oldest is a senior in HS and he'll head to college in July. In four months, he'll be gone...sniff!

Time flies fast enough, we really don't need to wish it fly faster!

Now, that being said, I have the advantage of having another son in 7th grade. I may be wrong, but I feel like I'm going to do things differently and better with him. For example, I have no thought whatsoever for him about high school and college. We are simply working for the season he's getting ready to start.

I also yell at umpires a lot less!

Nice thread. Parents of high school travellers and college players often tell me about how much fun they had when their boys were the age of mine, 8yrs. And they tell me to savor the less competitive, more laid back routine of these years. We are playing "travel lite" this year and I am thinking we may go back to rec next year.

We enjoy going to college games to see local boys play, going to Sounds games etc and I am not ready to give that up to devote more time to travel ball yet. (We are skipping Saturday practice to go see the locals who play for Western KY.)

Thanks for the reminder that we are in halcyon days.

omg where to start? there aren't enough hours in a day for enjoying watching my kids playing ball,or any other guys kids.i miss it so much that i volunteered to announce the game at our high school one night,and they felt so sorry for me that they let me.
great thread.

quote:

Originally posted by biggerpapi:
I also yell at umpires a lot less!

I think many of us suddenly realize around the high school Soph year that yelling at the umpire is not a good practice. Some before that but most get there by college age.
People think I'm so calm and relaxed at the games, I'm actually churning inside but learned a few lessons going through this whole thing 10 years ago. It's a phase most of us have to go through...

Oh, Innocent Bystander, you are so right about that! Unfortunately, in our small town everyone knew when our son was on the mound, behind the plate, or at bat. Ya know, he has done just fine as a college freshman starting catcher without everyone knowing which player is my son! In fact, it all came home to me this past weekend when we were thrilled to see his first college HR! When I was telling his mentor about it back home his comment was "well, did you let out your usual stand up, shout?" Thankfully, I was able to say no, but I was yelling really loud on the inside! I wish I had learned a little sooner! Have a great day and enjoy your boys!

quote:

Originally posted by warningtrack:
...
Is there anything better than watching your kids play baseball?

Doubt it...going to see if watching my 2014 play lacrosse comes close tonight...first JV game of the season (and his HS career) then hopefully catching the end of 2011's last HS scrimmage - first game is Monday...lucky for us, there are only 2 or 3 conflicts between the two all season!

quote:

Is there anything better than watching your kids play baseball?

Baseball connects the generations for me. My dad and I used to sit outside and listen to baseball on the radio when I was a kid. He coached a few of my softball teams. All great memories.

Baseball brings great joy to my son. His biggest smiles have been a result of something baseball related.

I've loved baseball as far back as I can remember. When I watch my son play, I feel a connection with my dad, even though he's been gone for a decade.

Present day joy and a warm connection with the past. Don't know how it gets much better than that.

quote:

Originally posted by twotex:
Baseball connects the generations for me. My dad and I used to sit outside and listen to baseball on the radio when I was a kid. He coached a few of my softball teams. All great memories.
When I watch my son play, I feel a connection with my dad, even though he's been gone for a decade.

My dad is 80, 6'1 240 and strong as an ox. Works pretty much every day tough old buzzard.
Anyway, we get along great and I routinely go down to sunny South Carolina to help him with different projects. But he lived right next to us until fairly recently. My oldest played baseball from the time he was 7 until he was 26, was in the local papers now and then, and my dad NEVER saw him play! NEVER..So we don't really have a baseball connection...

Twotex - I'm with you there. As a kid, I remember those summer days and nights listening to the Rangers on the radio in the pickup as we drove to wherever the heck we were going in Texas. My parents were often away at college football games for part of the World Series and I have great memories of watching some of those games on an old black & white TV with my grandfather.

We limit TV at home now and my boy listens to games on the radio in his room where I join him at times. Being at the game is best, but listening on the radio is special.

quote:

Originally posted by sportsfan5:
I was helping out with the HS softball team today and as I left their field and drove by the baseball field, my car didn't automatically turn in like it has every spring day for the past four years. As much as I love my daughter and love being able to help with her team, I miss baseball and watching my sons play HS baseball. What a great time and I envy all of you who are just entering it.


Have fun, enjoy it and cherish it because one of these days, your car won't automatically turn into the parking lot as you pass the field either.

A very nice and sad post all in one. On the one hand you want your kids to go on to the next level, yet you still want to hold on to these days.

I remember the end of last years varsity regular season, where a friend of my son on the opposing team was playing his last game.
He was a year ahead of my son and as a senior was not going to play at the next level. We were ahead with two outs when he came to the plate hoping to start a last ditch rally. Sadly he grounded out to end the game(I was actually pulling for him), and as he walked the line to shake hands with my sons team I could see him crying. After my son gave him a special acknowledgment he was suppose to run with the team to left field for the post game talk. Instead he took an extra minute to put his arm around his friend and they walked out to the mound together. His mother and my wife were in tears watching it unfold, knowing this would be his last organized game. I was proud of my son for empathizing with his friends situation despite facing his coaches wrath for getting to the huddle a late. Fortunately our coach did not get on my son for being late because he understood what was happening.

So I am trying to cherish every moment of this my sons senior season. God willing he will be playing at the next level, but these wonderful days of HS baseball will soon be coming to an end.