How you view the money spent

I term it an investment--not necessarily for a scholarship but for the betterment of my sons future---it is part of being a parent

Some spend it on music lessons some on sports

An investment. If nothing else, it will result in a MEMORY of some sort. Of course, we hope for better returns.

Normal Expense, part of his life. just as my other kid's when they need somthing I (try) to get it for them also.

2,4 &5

They all mean basically the same thing to me.

But.... with the advent of eBay, I find that is you bought good quality equipment, when they outgrow it you can sell it again rather than just stick it in the closet or throw it away. I have sold every one of my sons former LL style bats. Some for more than I paid for them... thank you Mr. Barnum

If nothing else, he'll be a ringer on the company softball team. Can't tell you how many good friends I've made POST-hardball when playing adult softball. Very good times playing on Santa Barbara's various city fields.......

I wish the same for him.

Uh-oh, I hear a little Eddie Money comin' on!!

"I wanna go back,
And do it all over
But I can't go back, I know
I wanna go back
Cause I'm feelin' so much older
But I can't go back, I know...."

pretty much agree with all of the above. Just always trying to do my best in raising my kids and When it comes to a positive and productive experience like playing ball, spending what you can - it's a "no-brainer".

2, 4 & 5 for me too. Never saw it as an investment and never thought we were playing the lottery. Baseball is just what our family loves and does for fun.

Nothing more than that!

Whenever I see this topic, I think of a conversation I had one day with a stranger. We were both waiting in a hotel lobby: he to join some family members to go to a wedding function and I to go to my son's next U18 tournament game.

He'd seen our players dressed for the game and asked what was going on. I explained that we were at East Cobb for a tournament. He smiled and told me that he'd raised 3 sons: two of whom were playing professional hockey and one who played pro baseball. After chuckling about the the continuous stream of weekend excursions, he looked me in the eye and said: "Don't ever add it up. It doesn't matter what it costs. You're helping your son live his dream." It didn't take long for me to reflect on his comment and agree...and I've never felt any differently.

I walked in a sporting goods store the other day just to look around. Of course I went over to the baseball section to look at some bats. As I looked around I saw the football section. All I could think of was my oldest son who is a freshman in college this year playing football. I thought about all the stuff I had bought him over the years. Cleats , elbow pads etc etc. I thought about the day I dropped him off for college. I asked him if he needed anything for football. He told me no that they were taking care of everything he needed. It made me sad. I wanted to buy him something. I wanted to give him something. I personally dread the day that my youngest will not need a new bat or a glove. The look on their faces when you give them that new bat is priceless. They cant wait to go break it in. I dont want to think about the day that I wont have to buy my kids bats or gloves. It brings me as much joy if not more than them. The cost of bats or gloves or anything else will never come close to matching the joy of watching my sons play the games that they love.

Prepster,

Good poll. The results are maybe a bit surprising...

Writing the $500 check is only the tip of the iceberg, we parents know that all too well. The dividend, however, is far greater than the total invested. The time that we get to spend watching our boys (and their friends) grow into men is priceless.

Prepster,
Excellent response. Hit the nail on the head. Support the dream!

Coach, That is what this board is all about.

.


Coach...I think that was tear I just felt...


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In the end you spend the money and the time to

- give your son a shot at his dream (few get this shot in life)

- for life lessons (and there are many if you look for them)

- to connect closely with your son

- to give them a reason to stay straight.

And Belive me it's worth every penny. When it's over you will wish badly that you were still spending the $ and taking criticism from those who don't and never will understand.

You can get more money, but you can never get this experience together again.

.

I'm with TRHit and others on this - it is money spent for memories that will last a lifetime. Money is just money - none of us have as much as we'd like, but most of us seem to get by. Money spent to help a kid chase a dream is never wasted.

The way I would look at it is an investment at the time of purchase. Realistically it is a longshot return at best. However, if my son would look at it as an investment toward his dream and then look at me with a twinkle of thanks in his eye it is ultimatly the cost of parental happiness.

Perhaps this will put it in perspective:

we had a young man with us the past two weekends--- fine player with a dream top play at a specific college--- we had the coach from that specific college with us this past weekend at a tournament we were competing in--- end result--coach hung to see us in the finals, we lost 4-0, but he arranged to meet with the boy and his family after the game ( 10 PM at nite) and this weekend the boy makes an official visit with an offer to come.

Matters not what the dollar costs were for the boy and his family to be in the tournament-- his dream may well come true this coming weekend

You cannot put a $$ value on something like this