I thought some folks might appreciate this

That was sweet....and something that has been said here time and time again.  Enjoy this time, this at bat,  because very soon it will be over.

Thank you so much for posting that... I REALLY needed it this morning!!! 

Awesome post.  Thanks for sharing.  Brings tears to my eyes...  And appropriate for me as I will be driving 3 hours to my son's game today where he might not even get in as a relief pitcher.  But, it is his senior year of college and it will all be over soon.  Looking for that brief wave from the dugout and the small chat as they head to the bus after the game.  If I was able to do it all again, I don't think I'd change anything.  I've loved my son's baseball "career" and I enjoy the time I spend with him now as that man playing baseball...

Enjoy it while you can.

Good read. Don't get lulled into thinking you have 12-15 years. Make the most of today.

Wow. From NJ.com forum regulars! Nice post. 

You know, my son got his driver's permit a couple of months back when he turned 16.  But he's been dragging his feet when it comes to getting time behind the wheel and preparing for his road test.

You know what that means?  Dad has to Uber him around still when he needs to get to places beyond walking distance.  You know what else that means? Dad ain't complaining.  I just get to be with him a little more before he leaves the nest next year.

Great read.  Savor every moment.  You never know when it may end.  Sometimes abruptly.

There is life after baseball.

I have some friends I golf with that don't understand why I refuse to skip a fairly meaningless DH on a Saturday morning in June ...or think I am crazy for skipping out early 4 or 5 days a week from work because one of the 2 boys seem to be playing everyday, or refusing to leave before an 8pm flight in late March for our spring golf trip that we have been taking together since before any of us had kids...well so I can see the full HS game that afternoon obviously!!

I have missed very little over the years and reading this thread makes me feel very good about those choices!! in only 7 short years the youngest one will be done college, I will play lots and lots of golf at that point. Until then baseball is going to continue to be the primary schedule driver at our home!

OK. I look a little ridiculous tearing up at work. This may be the most eye-opening post I've read on this forum. 

My son had a graphic in his room of a tee baller morphing through stages into an adult player. When he went to college I sold the house. The picture went in a box. My son asked for it last year. He said it's a reminder of how far he came as a player.

I think back to the little kid I raced backwards teasing him he couldn't catch me. Then I would pick him up and hang him over my shoulders. Now when I hug him I feel like I'm hugging chiseled rock.

Enjoy the ride. Someday there won't be a game to watch.

I love this article and experience it a little different than most.  For me this has been a much more gradual process.  My oldest son started T-ball in 1987 and I have had a son on a baseball field every year since then.  My youngest son is now a 2017 and I am glimpsing the end of an era.  Each day I try to become more philosophical about enjoying every moment and making the journey my goal...

In reality I don't think I will ever be ready to give up the "baseball parent" role.  That role changes with each year as boys become young men and young men become men.  At one time I had College, HS, JHS, and t-ball all rolling at the same time...now it is down to the final son and I am trying to cherish each day.

Fortunately by the time he is through college my new role as "baseball grandparent" should be well underway

MDBallDad posted:

I love this article and experience it a little different than most.  For me this has been a much more gradual process.  My oldest son started T-ball in 1987 and I have had a son on a baseball field every year since then.  My youngest son is now a 2017 and I am glimpsing the end of an era.  Each day I try to become more philosophical about enjoying every moment and making the journey my goal...

In reality I don't think I will ever be ready to give up the "baseball parent" role.  That role changes with each year as boys become young men and young men become men.  At one time I had College, HS, JHS, and t-ball all rolling at the same time...now it is down to the final son and I am trying to cherish each day.

Fortunately by the time he is through college my new role as "baseball grandparent" should be well underway

LOL baseball grandparent is an awesome term. Here is a good one for you. I was coaching travel local Ripken league team I think it was 10u, my assistant is out of town, I have a meeting come up at work that I just can't get out of and we have a game that night. I call my Dad and ask him to step in, he has coached for as long as I can remember, he was actively helping me during the rec ball season, he knew all the kids and came to all the games...it was no brainer for the night. I got home right about the same time as my wife and son got home after the game, I forget if we won or lost but I remember my wife telling me she got a great pic of my dad talking to my son at 3B...

Fast forward to Christmas and my wife gives my father a framed picture of him and my 2017 "talking" at 3b, my father looks at it and smiles, he hands it to me and I am like WTF...I am like I know that LOOK he is pissed, I know it all to well....my Dad smiles and says, he had just run thru a stop sign rounding 2nd but was safe at 3rd anyway....and lovely wife caught the old man giving the grandson an one sided talking to about following orders!!!

My father kept that pic on his desk at work until the day he retired!

old_school posted:

MDBallDad posted:

I love this article and experience it a little different than most.  For me this has been a much more gradual process.  My oldest son started T-ball in 1987 and I have had a son on a baseball field every year since then.  My youngest son is now a 2017 and I am glimpsing the end of an era.  Each day I try to become more philosophical about enjoying every moment and making the journey my goal...

In reality I don't think I will ever be ready to give up the "baseball parent" role.  That role changes with each year as boys become young men and young men become men.  At one time I had College, HS, JHS, and t-ball all rolling at the same time...now it is down to the final son and I am trying to cherish each day.

Fortunately by the time he is through college my new role as "baseball grandparent" should be well underway

LOL baseball grandparent is an awesome term. Here is a good one for you. I was coaching travel local Ripken league team I think it was 10u, my assistant is out of town, I have a meeting come up at work that I just can't get out of and we have a game that night. I call my Dad and ask him to step in, he has coached for as long as I can remember, he was actively helping me during the rec ball season, he knew all the kids and came to all the games...it was no brainer for the night. I got home right about the same time as my wife and son got home after the game, I forget if we won or lost but I remember my wife telling me she got a great pic of my dad talking to my son at 3B...

Fast forward to Christmas and my wife gives my father a framed picture of him and my 2017 "talking" at 3b, my father looks at it and smiles, he hands it to me and I am like WTF...I am like I know that LOOK he is pissed, I know it all to well....my Dad smiles and says, he had just run thru a stop sign rounding 2nd but was safe at 3rd anyway....and lovely wife caught the old man giving the grandson an one sided talking to about following orders!!!

My father kept that pic on his desk at work until the day he retired!

Awesome story! 

fanofgame posted:

My first grandchild was born Sunday morning. A beautiful boy. He has big hands and long fingers ) maybe a pitcher or maybe a piano player

My daughters child who never cared for sports so not sure baseball is in his future but boy are we excited)

if we dont get to go to baseball games Ill go to anything he does. 

Congratulations!!!

fanofgame posted:

My first grandchild was born Sunday morning. A beautiful boy. He has big hands and long fingers ) maybe a pitcher or maybe a piano player

My daughters child who never cared for sports so not sure baseball is in his future but boy are we excited)

if we dont get to go to baseball games Ill go to anything he does. 

Congratulations!! Cherish each moment