There is no preparing a parent for those all those monumental moments. First day of kindergarten, First Date, First time they take the car out - alone, First Prom, First time away from home. Shane left on June 6th to play summer ball out of state. The night before he left, as I helped him pack, it was impossible not to cry. He hugged me and said that he would stay if I wanted him to. As hard as it was for me, I knew that this is what he wanted more than anything and that it would be an experience of a lifetime. Something that I could not take away from him. One can only hope that the values that you instill at home will remain when they leave the nest. Over the past few weeks he has learned so much about himself, his family and about how to be a man. He has dealt with adversity, homesickness, new surroundings, new team and new coaches. I am happy to say that his father and I could never be prouder of him. This opportunity will carry him far beyond the ball field. He is growing not only physically but mentally into a wonderful young man. For the parents who told me I was crazy to let him go so far away, my only response was I would have been crazy to keep him home. He turns 17 on July 5th (Happy Birthday Bubba) and Dad and I will be there on the 7th to see our little man, ok not so little at 6'4 but he will always be litte to me.
