It was worth every penny. People please, please enjoy the time spent with your child or children, because before you know it the ride will be over. It ended way too soon for me,(one season of college ball). Our son said he there was not enough time in the day for baseball and schoolwork, we supported him 100% to his face (and cried like babies behind closed doors). I guess everything is working out OK though, he made the Deans list both semesters his second year. Maybe in the years to come we can start another ride with the grandkids.
Is it worth it?
Is it worth it to see him have literally hundreds of friends and former teammates that to this day stay in touch with him?
To see his level of self-discipline, hard work, and sacrifice rise to a level that trounces my own?
To see his leadership skills pinnacle, four straight semesters on the Dean's list with two successive 4.0 semesters? All the while having a successful summer on the field 1500 miles from friends and family, including his girl?
To know he has had nearly 100 --yes, 100-- coaches, all of whom have instilled a level of confidence, knowledge, and mental discipline needed to succeed in not only in the game of baseball but life?
To watch him in glory and pain, in suffering and misfortunate, kicked about only to rise again more determined, and better than ever?
The day I start measuring the cost of baseball, wondering if I could have instead invested in this or that mutual fund, bought a BMW instead of a Nissan, is the day I throw in the towel knowing I am a complete wretch. If anything, I hope I have conveyed to my son a notion of sacrifice that will carry him well in life. I have always told him that my fondest hope was for him to be greater than myself. And comparing his childhood to mine, I know that's true.
It is not only worth it, it is right.
Is it worth it to see him have literally hundreds of friends and former teammates that to this day stay in touch with him?
To see his level of self-discipline, hard work, and sacrifice rise to a level that trounces my own?
To see his leadership skills pinnacle, four straight semesters on the Dean's list with two successive 4.0 semesters? All the while having a successful summer on the field 1500 miles from friends and family, including his girl?
To know he has had nearly 100 --yes, 100-- coaches, all of whom have instilled a level of confidence, knowledge, and mental discipline needed to succeed in not only in the game of baseball but life?
To watch him in glory and pain, in suffering and misfortunate, kicked about only to rise again more determined, and better than ever?
The day I start measuring the cost of baseball, wondering if I could have instead invested in this or that mutual fund, bought a BMW instead of a Nissan, is the day I throw in the towel knowing I am a complete wretch. If anything, I hope I have conveyed to my son a notion of sacrifice that will carry him well in life. I have always told him that my fondest hope was for him to be greater than myself. And comparing his childhood to mine, I know that's true.
It is not only worth it, it is right.
My 16 y/o son recently went through a 2 week hitting slump. He decided he wanted to work off the tee to figure it out, and asked me to film him. He set up the the net, took his hacks, and reviewed the film (with me). He thought he figured it out so he made some adjustments. Then of course he needed a new wood bat, a lucky one.
Last game he was 3 for 4. As he came off the field after his last at bat he passed me in my usual place in my folding chair. He gave me a big smile and made a joke about the new bat. It was the first time he has ever looked at me during a game.
For me, his mom, I can't put into words how much spending the time with him means. Talking to him about the sport we both love. Helping him when asked. Just taking it all in.
Double header today. Can't wait!
Last game he was 3 for 4. As he came off the field after his last at bat he passed me in my usual place in my folding chair. He gave me a big smile and made a joke about the new bat. It was the first time he has ever looked at me during a game.
For me, his mom, I can't put into words how much spending the time with him means. Talking to him about the sport we both love. Helping him when asked. Just taking it all in.
Double header today. Can't wait!
There are times when I'll be talking with my son, who's still plugging away at this crazy game in college, and the conversation will drift to his travel ball days. We still laugh at many of the adventures he had with his various teams and teammates on the road. The shared experience of doing something together that we both loved -- him playing and me watching -- will always be a part of us. That bond, I don't believe, will ever go away, and neither will the stories we like to tell.
And it sure beat sitting on the couch at home wondering what we should do today. Or, even worse, not knowing where he was or what he was up to. Yep, it cost some money and time, but what else would I have rather been doing? I don't hunt, I don't fish, I don't play golf. I've been watching baseball all my life, and to this day, my son is still my favorite player.
And it sure beat sitting on the couch at home wondering what we should do today. Or, even worse, not knowing where he was or what he was up to. Yep, it cost some money and time, but what else would I have rather been doing? I don't hunt, I don't fish, I don't play golf. I've been watching baseball all my life, and to this day, my son is still my favorite player.
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Great thread and some great post.as we are in New England just about to finish up our two weeks here watching our son play summer college ball.This is his first time away as he was injured last year, and played local after his first JC year.
This has been a wonderful two weeks.Met awesome people, sons host family are new firends in our life.The experiences he is getting just are incredible.
As We went to host families for breakfast this morning, I watched his host family packing the most beautiful lunch for him that included homemeade brownies, I laughed to see that God knew the exact mom for him.
Ive read this thread off and on on our down time.
Every day, every week, every year that goes by I am so happy to watch my son play this great game.It hasn't alway been easy, lots of tough times, but so many wonderful times.
I know people think we have spent too much time with baseball, but funny as we were with a lot of the parents from summer team the last few days, they are all the same.
The ones who question it don't get it. The boys whose hearts are sold out on the game, how lucky we are to be able to support them in all aspects.
As someone else mentioned many boys walk away when its their time, they dont want to do it anymore.Nothing wrong with that.The funnel gets thinner and thinner as time goes on.
The ones that continue because it is their passion, their love, we are so lucky to be there with them and watching them develop into the great young men they are.
We have a lot to be proud of whetehr they continue or decide on another path.My son, he will have to be removed from the field, he wont walk away.Lack of talent, lack of luck may prevent forward movement, but it wont be due to lack of work.And that is a key element in the future success of them in all aspects of life.
This has been a wonderful two weeks.Met awesome people, sons host family are new firends in our life.The experiences he is getting just are incredible.
As We went to host families for breakfast this morning, I watched his host family packing the most beautiful lunch for him that included homemeade brownies, I laughed to see that God knew the exact mom for him.
Ive read this thread off and on on our down time.
Every day, every week, every year that goes by I am so happy to watch my son play this great game.It hasn't alway been easy, lots of tough times, but so many wonderful times.
I know people think we have spent too much time with baseball, but funny as we were with a lot of the parents from summer team the last few days, they are all the same.
The ones who question it don't get it. The boys whose hearts are sold out on the game, how lucky we are to be able to support them in all aspects.
As someone else mentioned many boys walk away when its their time, they dont want to do it anymore.Nothing wrong with that.The funnel gets thinner and thinner as time goes on.
The ones that continue because it is their passion, their love, we are so lucky to be there with them and watching them develop into the great young men they are.
We have a lot to be proud of whetehr they continue or decide on another path.My son, he will have to be removed from the field, he wont walk away.Lack of talent, lack of luck may prevent forward movement, but it wont be due to lack of work.And that is a key element in the future success of them in all aspects of life.
Long winded, I apologize, but I am in the car on a three and ahalf hour drive to watch him play.
Not long winded at all. Very heart-felt sentiments that I am enjoying reading. People that are not fortunate enough to have shared a great passion with their kids will never understand what it's like. I am amazed at the love and camaraderie that come from being able to share this ride with our sons. We have all been very fortunate to have had this time with our kids.
I think its worth it , we did it say medium rather than extreme but to give some balance to this topic kids do miss out on other things as being competitive means these days you almost have to take an extreme approach. Many days and hours year round these days. But if your son is gifted with natural size strength and quickness then you can take a more casual approach. I know parents that have cut their kids down to one sport as they said their child was turning into a robot.