I haven't checked HSBBWEB in a long time. It used to be a BIG part of my life, providing invaluable information, support, and friendship as we navigated the roller coaster of our sons' college and pro baseball experiences. As is always the case, however, our sons eventually hung up their cleats and we all moved on.
Life is very good, post baseball. Our sons have added two amazing daughter-in-laws and four beautiful grandkids to our crew. Our oldest attended UTA and played for the Giants and Rockies in the 2000's. He's now a fire captain in suburban Dallas and owns a baseball strength and conditioning business with several other exMLB players. Our younger son was drafted out of hs, played for Texas Tech, and worked through numerous surgeries/rehabs to finally take the field one last time his senior year. He majored in turf management/chemistry and is now a golf course superintendent for a private club in Houston. Both are happy family guys and don't miss playing ball at all. They do have some great baseball memories, though, and still "compete" in everything they do. I think they're wired that way for life!
In reflection, the best advice I could give to those of you still in the "baseball parent trenches," would be to fully enjoy it, but don't let it consume you. Resist the urge to worry, because it will only drain pleasure out of your experience. Someday you will move on to different, better things....like grandkids ... and everything you stressed over will seem relatively insignificant. Prepare your sons for that reality, too, and continue to support their journey after they hang up their cleats. In the end, baseball really isn't as important as it feels right now. It's one stage in life, one step in life's journey. Enjoy it while it lasts... and then welcome the next path, wherever it leads.
