My son is 15 years old and has played baseball since he could walk. I have tried, with my limited knowledge of the game, to teach him the right way or to get him the instruction he needs to be successful. He has played competitive travel baseball for the last sevral years and enjoyed most every minute of it. He tried out and made a highly competitive basball team last fall in the St. Louis area. He chose this oranization over a couple of others because of the competion level and exposure the organization promotes. Though the cost was higher than most organizations, my wife and I encouraged him to tryout.
Midway through this past summer he tore an MCL, that put him out for a month and finished his season premuturely. Though he didn't hit as well as he would have liked, he fielded exceptionally well, jelled and became friends with his teamates from all over the St. Louis area and had a great time. There was never a doubt that he would return in 07'. He indicated he wanted to return and his coach wanted him back.
Then something happened....I lost my job three weeks ago. My wife and I talked. We talked with the kids. Told them it was not the end of the world as I will get another job. Told them life will go on as close to normal as possible, I have a separation package that will take me through the end of year. Plenty of time!
Tryouts for his team were last Sunday. Saturday night my son informed us that he would not be tring out for the St. Louis team again. This suprised both my wife and I! When we asked why he indicated "he really didn't have that much fun". His face told another story!
Right then,I wondered who was teaching who? And it wasn't about a game, but a lesson on life. He hasn't said two words about it since, but I know he's thinking about our situation and not so much about a game.
I know two things for sure:
1)He will play baseball next summer somewhere.
2)He's growing up.
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