My son is out carrying groceries in with my wife, and the neighbor across the street comes running over with her 2+ year old son in tow. She and her husband graduated from the University where my son plays baseball. She comes up to my son and wife and says something like this “Hey, my little guy has been throwing the ball around at home and he has a really good arm! Do you think it is possible that Adam can work with him and give him some lessons, I think he could be a really good pitcher!”
My wife offers encouragement, not just to be nice, but because she can remember being excited about our son 18-19 years ago when he was that age. My wife tells her he needs to keep playing catch and have fun, and that soon he will be playing T-Ball. My son works with kids at the University summer camps, so he also understands her earnest enthusiasm, as he deals with little Johnny and their mothers/fathers all the time.
Some may think this story is a little corny, but I thought it was worth sharing. I guess I am happy in the fact that my little boy is not a little boy any longer, but a young man that others look to for help, regardless of the actual need for a 2 year old to receive pitching and hitting lessons. And for the first time I look at him differently because of this experience, not as my son the baseball player -- but as my son the future father, coach, and hard working employee that he will become one day.
Original Post
