Ever wish you could rewind?

amen!!!

justbaseball

Great post--- I think back to my guys and no site like where we could "chew over the situations"--- it was not easy--would I rewind ?--I dont think so--it worked well for them and I learned from the experience

Justbaseball,
Great post! I agree 100%
We can not see the future nor can we alter the past!
When it's our sons on the field we have to appreciate the pitcher and not the pitch. Enjoy the hitter and not the hit. Love the player and not the play.

Fungo

Justbaseball -

Great advice! Thank you for reminding us all to stop and enjoy each game and each moment as it happens, without always looking at what's up ahead. This family is trying hard to keep from getting overwhelmed with the upcoming junior summer activities. Thanks for the reminder. There will be hugs all around tonight!

Justbaseball, great post!

As the parent of an 04, I would like to add one more comment to 05s and their parents:

"I even remember thinking if I could just fast-forward to November, see what was ulitmately going to happen on the college thing, and then go back and maybe relax and enjoy it all."

05s, try to remember that while many of the "top prospects" sign in November, there are MANY good ball players who make their college decision in spring of senior year, or even that summer. Some of these later decisions involve scholarships, many go on to have great college careers, and some even "bloom late" in college and go on to pro baseball.

Do the research, get some exposure, and apply to several colleges, not just your top choice, but don't get too worried if it doesn't lead to a November signing. Good things can happen in spring of senior year or even that summer! Have fun!

Speaking as a parent of an '05....thank you for this thread. Looking forward to reading more.

Thank you 04's! Puts it all into perspective. I'm glad I found this site when I did. You folks have helped us to understand the 'process' and we are looking forward to 'the ride'.

Thanks again and keep it coming. Good luck to you and your son's in the remainder of the season.

My son is an '04 and has had the great fortune of being accepted to college and recruited to play baseball there.

This last Saturday morning I was driving to his high school game and drove past the local little league T-Ball field. It was an extremely bittersweet feeling. Part of me looking forward to his game and his collegiate future and another part wishing we were back on that T-ball field getting to do it all again.

Enjoy the "ride", it never seems to last long enough.

HeyBatter - Thats why we had 6 kids! Just kidding of course.

I know what you mean. I'm still coaching our youngest son (11) and our older boys can't believe how calm I am now. It is SO much fun going back and doing it all over again.

Oh, one more thing. All of the lessons I have learned from this board over the last few years should have me better prepared for my next ballplayer.....2017 .

I sure hope I can apply something that I have learned by then

justbaseball, have you been reading my mind? you are absolutely right...am trying to enjoy our son's senior season...we'll see how things go...we start our district play today...good luck to your son and enjoy the rest of his season!

Great subject.

Now that he's off at college I am continually finding myself looking for excuses during the week to make the 2 1/2 hour drive to go his games (luckily I'm self-employed, can't get anything done on game days), same as I used to be come to think of it! LOL!

It's still so much fun to be a small part of. Different, but fun still the same. The kid that would never pick up a thing off the floor in his room during high school, has turned into quite the little housekeeper now that he has his own place, YEAH! My first trip to vist after he went off to school I walked in the door to his apartment and accused him of having the keys to the manager's apartment it was neat as a pin! I was speechless. He even went as far as to say "my roomate's a slob, I'm always picking up after him" again I was speechless, I thought "who are you and what have you done with my son"!

Quite a transformation in a few short months. I agonized with him while he went through the growing pains of him trying get in the lineup, and I'm riding the wave with him as he has appeared to have broken the starting lineup for about 3 weeks now playing full games for the last 2 weeks, boy I was wondering when those coaches were going to come to their senses

Roll back the clock? At one time maybe, but not any longer, this new ride is as fun as any of the old ones, enjoy it!!

I just thought of something....this might be helpful to another high school player and his parents who are starting the journey...

Just the other day I asked my son (04) and his friend (they were playing ping pong)...

I asked about a freshman pitcher in our area. Not knowing the kid very well, I was just curious as I knew/know his parents are hopeful that their pitcher son will have options down the road...

This is how it went...

"So what do you two think of so and so..."

Son's friend says, "All I know is he hits people....."

Son adds, "I think he needs some work..."

They added a couple of other observations and I had to stop them...

I told them "listen to yourselves - you two are going to college this fall"...

(mine for baseball and my son's friend for football)...

I reminded them that if their dreams had been squashed when they were 14 or 15 ....would they be looking forward to playing their sport after high school...

I quickly told them that this boy has aspirations to follow his own dreams, too..

I said all this to say...a lot can happen between the ages of 14 -18...they grow, they hopefully mature, they either love the game and live for it or find other pursuits...they must keep their grades up...and each must find out where his skill level measures in the spectrum of things...

But, as a parent I say, relish those moments and cherish who they are becoming...be it on a field or at home...

I've journaled for the last 15 years ...and it's amazing how many things you forget and how many of those seemingly huge problems are only a blur now...but when you look into the eyes of the young men who our son's are becoming ... it is remarkable how overwhelming this feeling can be...

I have a favorite photo from 1992...my oldest son wearing his catcher gear drinking his little brother's drink between innings at a scrimmage...and little brother was gazing up into his brother's eyes...

Big brother was a senior in high school and little brother was 4 years old...and now little brother is that senior in high school too...

It feels like yesterday...

Your child is a great gift...unwrap the present...and enjoy...

My '04 son and I had a wild jr. summer. Countless hours of driving from one field to another. Summer team games, showcases, etc. It was all worth it and in August he is off to the #1 college on his list! Now I wish I could just slow things down, I can't believe how fast his Sr. season is going.

Although my son is an '06, I am truly excited. This being his first varsity year, and so far so good. However, as I drive past the little league fields on my way home from work, I truly miss those days. I am extremely proud of what my son has accomplished, and look forward to many more fantastic days. I can't help but remember, when me and him used to just sit in the outfield grass and watch the butterflies and he would laugh that little boy belly laugh that they all have. God for just one more day of those. Too each of our sons who performs in front of many many judges under extremely tremendous pressure, I salute you. Too all the parents who were more nervous than the boys were and did such a great job of raising future leaders of america, I am proud of you. Take care and I hope to meet you on up the road.