They're baaaaack!

My son and his baseball bag go off to college next year. Honestly, I'm going to miss seeing that bag in the entry hall while he is gone, and glad to see it come back over winter break.

I used to have him store the bag elsewhere (not in the front hallway), but for his senior year of HS I decided I kinda like stepping around it.

I'm still trying to figure out a way to convince my dad that my running shoes don't smell THAT bad and they can be kept by the front door with the pile of the rest of the shoes instead of having to be outside...

-Dining room table becomes my oldest son's work area/study area when he is home from school. He's getting a jump on next semesters course work. He asked for a soldering iron kit, digital & binary circuits and circuit boards for Christmas. Who's kid is this anyway?

-Staying up late with his brothers playing video games or watching movies in the family room on the first floor. My master bedroom is on the first floor. Dad wears earplugs to sleep some nights.

-The pop of the mitt....baseball hitting leather in the front yard. All three boys are playing catch and long toss in the yard or in the street. I can hear that sound in my home office. I love that sound in December.

Also, at our house:
-hot YOGA membership
-clothes all over floor (at least they're confined to his room)
-pushing, pulling, twisting various body parts to help with stretches since the college trainer didn't come along
-tee and ball bucket permanently stored by front door, since the garage and car are too cold for storage
-stretchy bands everywhere
-long toss in long johns
-interesting dinner conversations

CaBB - Are you making that first road trip? It should be quite the experience, if the weather cooperates! Merry Christmas to you all, too!

quote:

Originally posted by CaBB:
Great time of year when the boys come home from college.

Signs you know it's winter break:

-More cars parked out front
-Stepping over bodies on living floor as they & all their buddies sleep
-fridge empties fast
-more trips to the grocery store
-empty wallets (parents)
-bat sitting by the back door
-glove on dining table
-multiple pairs of shoes scattered around
-washing machine/dryer running all the time
-see above but it's the dishwasher
-paying to work-out @ Cross Fit

Yup, that sounds like our home all right . . .and long with his 5 meals each day and trying to follow his nutritional requirements on his list (yes, now a printed list on paper. )

My son just arrived home today, his last final was last night. He just announced that there is nothing to eat in the house. I just bought $250 worth of food last night in anticipation of him coming home...

It's good to have him finally home!

It is great to have them home!

JH- you just keep trying to sell that idea to your parents- they will miss that smell when you're gone!

OR dad- yes we're planing on that 1st road trip-weather dependent with refundable tickets. Can't wait- it will be opening day before we know it. Merry Christmas to you and your family. Hope all is well and our boys will be ready for opening day.

To all the college parents enjoy your time with your boys-it flies by all too fast.

Nice to have him home.

Some of his first words when he comes back:

What's for dinner?

Great stuff..I posted on another thread before I saw this. Happy Holidays everyone!
_________________________________________________-

For a freshman parent, It was a great day to see our son again since family weekend in September. He came just in time for his 19th birthday ( His first Flight alone! ). Looking forward to spend almost a month with him under our roof and playing catch with him again.

College life for him as we have observed seems to be going well for him. He looks more mature physically ( as above..added more muscle) and mentally ( No more simple yes or no answers...)

He has a plan to continue his regular weight and agility workouts admixed with continuing to hone his baseball skills and fine tune some aspects of his game that he learned from his coaches.

He bought some books to prepare a little bit for his upcoming subjects in the spring.

Based on you guys experience, Is there any other advise you would recommend as to winter preparation as well as some tips in time management during the spring?

Thanks and Happy Holidays and hopefully a prosperous New year to all of you!

RR23

quote:

Based on you guys experience, Is there any other advise you would recommend as to winter preparation as well as some tips in time management during the spring?

RR23- I'd advise to just continue doing whatever the coaching staff laid out for him. Take advantage of the lack of other responsibilities that exist during break...focus the attention on baseball. The season is a short time away and the little things matter even more at this point.

As for the spring season, freshman year is a grind like nothing he's ever experienced. Make sure he knows to try to stay on a sound nutritional plan (the varying time requirements that come with traveling sometimes make it difficult to stay on target). Make sure he knows that doing homework and reading on the bus is NOT "uncool". He'll have his whole life to play poker and compare girlfriends. He won't have his whole life to get good grades.

Make sure he knows that if he manages the time between academics and athletics properly, there is still time to socialize. After all, there has to be some communication with the aforementioned females in order to discuss them with your teammates...

Most of all, make sure he knows to enjoy himself. College baseball is an amazing opportunity and an extraordinary experience. Time really flies during a college baseball career, and it is very easy to get lost in the busyness.

Thanks for the advise JH..Will relay the message. Had our first father and son workout today! Priceless...

quote:

Originally posted by J H:



Make sure he knows that doing homework and reading on the bus is NOT "uncool". He'll have his whole life to play poker and compare girlfriends. He won't have his whole life to get good grades.

Make sure he knows that if he manages the time between academics and athletics properly, there is still time to socialize.

Agree with JH on this one. Make sure your son is taking care of the work in the classroom. If his schedule allows, he should try to complete as much homework as possible before the roadtrips. Nothing like trying to do homework late Sunday night on a bus. You're tired and just want to go home. If he can plan ahead, he's much better off. Balance is a keyword. Even in the amount of time spent doing homework/socializing with the guys on bus trips.

Good luck to your son this year!

Thanks mstcks...Will relay as well to my son.. Have to stay ahead..Spring will be the true test.

quote:

I'm still trying to figure out a way to convince my dad that my running shoes don't smell THAT bad and they can be kept by the front door with the pile of the rest of the shoes instead of having to be outside...

I am still trying to get the smell out of my car, I swear he hid a pair of his old socks under the seat!I have to admit that after a couple months of not gagging on that smell I do kinda miss it. I feel sorry for the teammates on the bus this spring.

We did catch a break on workout facility for the break, a good friend is the freshman coach at the high school and is allowing my son access to the HS facilities during his "open gyms".

quote:

Originally posted by mmm1531:

quote:

I'm still trying to figure out a way to convince my dad that my running shoes don't smell THAT bad and they can be kept by the front door with the pile of the rest of the shoes instead of having to be outside...

I am still trying to get the smell out of my car, I swear he hid a pair of his old socks under the seat!I have to admit that after a couple months of not gagging on that smell I do kinda miss it. I feel sorry for the teammates on the bus this spring.

We did catch a break on workout facility for the break, a good friend is the freshman coach at the high school and is allowing my son access to the HS facilities during his "open gyms".

My son's HS encourages Alumni (Alumnus?)that are playing in college to come back and use the facilities. My son is currently lifting with his old HS team in the schools weight room and working out with them during the open Gym's sessions. He gets to see old friends and freshman get to see what it takes in the weight room at the next level.

The shoes on the floor, dirty clothes everywhere, commotion, playing catch again " just for a bit pops cause I gotta go see my buds", standing at the fridge for hours just looking, all the team "garb" stuff in a heap, "hey dad this stuff needs to be washed"...then in a few days they are gone again. It just goes by so fast, too fast....I dread the day he leaves....