Last College game- can anyone relate?

Oh goodness - I'm living it! Although my son gave up ball and didn't complete playing throughout college, this was my first spring and now summer without traveling to follow him play. Along with some other things in my life, it's been an adjustment that I wasn't really ready for. I think realizing that sooner or later, everyone hangs up their cleats - some on their own terms and others not so much, helps with the emotion of loss. Realizing that they're going on to the next part of their life and appreciating what ball has done to help prepare them for that next step is a blessing us former baseball parents are fortunate to have been a part of.

One good thing I shared with a baseball friend of mine is that I've been able to catch a lot of baseball that I've always wanted to, but been unable due to my son's playing. Now, you can pick favorite teams and follow them much more closely!

PiTen, we can ALL relate because we all know SOMEDAY EVERYONE will be forced to relate. I look at it this way. There are MANY things that your son (and you) sacrificed or ignored for his baseball. You didn't realize it at the time because you made the choice to follow him. It takes a while but you will start to notice those things that were ignored in the past. Like lafmom says she can do things now she couldn't do before. My son is 24 years old and this is his first summer out of baseball. He called last week and kinda put it in perspective by saying ---- "This is the first summer of my life that I can do anything I want". "It sure feels good!"

My summers for the past 20+ years have been focused around my son's baseball. I have eight brothers and sister and I haven't seen five of them in 30 years. Since my son isn't playing all over the US with me in tow I'm taking a trip to Utah to meet up with some of them next month. I also have a grandson that graduates from high school in Houston, TX this Thursday and we're leaving in the morning to attend his graduation.
Fungo

quote:

Just feeling down, cry looking at ball pics of his team, and can't come to talk to others about baseball. Have any of you moms been through this?

Mine's just finishing high school, but the pain is acute nonetheless. Lots of emotion, tears, and reminiscences. It is soooooooo nice to have a forum like this to share in, as you are right -- non-baseball folks just don't understand.

I'll be praying for you as you make the transition. I am hoping that in a few weeks, you'll be able to look at all those pics without shedding a tear!

This is such a great "place" to be. How nice to see the responses to this post. It made me really sad at first to read this because I have a high school senior that's played his last high school game. But it's amazing how sharing with other people and getting reassurance makes you feel better because you know you're not alone.

I am going to miss my son when he goes away to college and not sure how many of his games we'll get to see but it is kinda fun to start making plans to do things we haven't done in years because we always had baseball stuff to do. How nice to know there's a place to come to talk to people going through the same situation.

CaBB,

I can relate to your situation. My son just played his freshman year at a D2 school out of state and we did not get to go to many games.

This forced us to start interacting with friends who were not "baseball-related" that had dropped us because we were alway (before) busy at baseball games. We've actually been out to dinner with adults and it's not with the team!

We've also started working on our house - cleaning out and remodeling. We're also giving more attention to our younger 16 yr. old son who is not a baseball player - not sure he loves that or not...

I do think it was good for my son to do this college baseball thing totally on his own without our input after every game - of course we were glued to the internet & analyzing stats. He is truly doing this because he loves baseball = not to please us. I hope this makes sense. Baseball in college is just too demanding - mentally and the time commitment not to do it for the love of the game.

I know the day will come soon when it is all over - we are making those baby steps to life after baseball. Reading this board is a lifesaver!

quote:

Originally posted by Fungo:

My summers for the past 20+ years have been focused around my son's baseball. I have eight brothers and sister and I haven't seen five of them in 30 years. Since my son isn't playing all over the US with me in tow I'm taking a trip to Utah to meet up with some of them next month. I also have a grandson that graduates from high school in Houston, TX this Thursday and we're leaving in the morning to attend his graduation.
Fungo

Same here Fungo! Getting to see people that I haven't seen or done much with in a long time. I've painted half my house, installed crown molding in two rooms, hardwood floors in several rooms, ceramic tile and updates in two bathrooms! Things that I NEVER was able to do while investing time, energy, and money in baseball. There is life after baseball!

Although mine is going on to a 4-year school, I was extrememly sad to say goodbye to teammates and parents we had become so close to at our JUCO. Now we will learn a whole new set of parents and players.

Thanks a lot for all of your inputs! Infield 08, CaBB, and Long Live Basball, I wish your sons a lot of luck playing college ball and I hope they enjoy it as much as mine did. I hope you make some great new friends as I did, too.

Lafmom and Fungo, thanks for the support knowing that you've been through it. I've already started on several forgotten house projects and am reconnecting with some non-baseball friends. Not ready yet to see any baseball(especially the little ones).
It was a good 16 yrs of baseball. Never know, perhaps may repeat it with a grandson someday!