Well, son signed in November, now coaches are moving on to bigger and better things - want son to come. What to do??? I was getting so excited and here we are back to square one

(Fan: I love to scrapbook)

Hit-a-Homer,

I'm not quite following - are the college coaches moving to a different school and want your son to now follow them? You may want to post this in the recruiting forum if you haven't already.

I'm so sorry that things aren't what you thought they would be! I understand - my son signed with a D2 school last spring and then guess what - the coach that signed him was fired. But things worked out great - the new coach was awesome and things worked out great. He had a good experience with his first year of college and baseball.

We all need to take it seriously about finding a school (that fit thing) that our boys will be happy with whether they play for a certain coach or they decide to quit baseball. I've seen several freshman baseball boys (D1 players to JUCO) hang them up this year for different reasons.

I do understand about liking a certain coach - you never know what you are going to get.

Prayers and chocolate are being sent your way!!

High school baseball is officially over! Had our awards last night (finally). Short ceremony due to students studying for finals (less than 1 hour for freshman, JV, Varsity). It's hard to believe it's all over and that the petty little things I worried about are done. Things like some parents never helping with any extra work, complaining parents, unorganized coaches at times. And yet, over time I know what I will really remember is all the fun times with the players and the parents. We had a blast for 4 years and couldn't have asked for a better baseball experience.

Warning: I am going to brag a little bit so skip this paragraph if you don't want to hear it!

A little background: senior academic awards last week same night as an important summer team game. Son and friends elected to go to awards even though summer coach was not happy about missing 4 players. We sat through 1 1/2 hours of awards. They called up all the students getting university scholarships and forgot to call my son's name!!!! Needless to say I was bummed.

Last night @ baseball awards coach was announcing scholar-athletes (3.5gpa and above) and son's name wasn't being called. Husband looked at me like it was happening again. Coach finally says "we saved this player for last because not only is he a scholar-athlete but he has the highest gpa on the team and is a national scholar-athlete"(my son).

On to team awards.The 1st one was for the athlete that hustled, had alot of spirit, etc. Kind of thought that fit my son, but no, went to a kid that had an emergency appendectomy, got out of hospital and drove 8 hours to our tourney just to be with team over Spring break. He did deserve it.

Next award, most improved (kinda hoped son would'nt get this one). He didn't.

Next award, team MVP. We have 5 D1 signees, one will most likely be drafted this week. Great 2 way player and a great kid. The coach goes on to explain why the 3 coaches picked the player as MVP. Great hustle, team leader, great person on and off the field, hard worker, played every varsity game for 4 years,etc. We're sure he's going to say our #1 pitcher......... and lo and behold he announces our son's name!!!!!! My husband and I were very shocked and very proud. Our son has worked really hard for many years and to be recognized by our coaches was very special for him. It seems to mean more to us as parents than to him. He's a very humble kid but as you can tell I am a proud parent.

A nice way to end high school baseball........

CABB, congratulations to your son! I'm sure it was awesome to see him acknowledged in so many wonderful ways!

My husband and I are having a rough time this week. Last Friday, son's team lost the regional finals. We were literally one out away from reaching the state tournament. It was the death of a dream and my son and his teammates were devastated. Son was inconsolable for at least 30 minutes afterwards, and our coach wrapped his arms around him and tried to comfort him as much as possible. Everyone was sobbing and hugging afterwards -- that is, everyone but me. I had to drive 3 hours back home during the last game in order to pick up my daughter from a friend's house and help her pack for a week-long school trip that started at 4 a.m. the following morning. It is still really bothering me that I wasn't there to see son's last game or hug him afterwards.

We did okay emotionally over the weekend, but yesterday, things began to sink in.....the finality of it all....the realization that son will never play another high school game.......the thought of his having to say goodbye to his teammates, many of whom he has played with since age 8 or 9 in Little League.....seeing the large tote bag in our entry hall that we took to every game and knowing we will never again need it......the sense of loss my husband and I are feeling as we realize how much we'll miss seeing all the baseball parents -- week in, week out -- next year......the last final exam, signifying the end of his academic year (ironically, as we struggled to keep him on task during his 9 months of senioritis, we couldn't wait 'til he graduated!).....the awful reminder that when he heads off to college in 2 1/2 months, life will never be quite the same.

Yesterday, son and his teammates turned in their uniforms. The coach called all of the seniors into a separate room and poured out his heart to him, crying as he did it. The senior slideshow and BBQ are today at the school, followed by cap and gown pick-up tomorrow, graduation practice on Thursday, and graduation ceremonies on Saturday night. Thankfully, the baseball banquet will not be until next Monday, so at least I'll get some closure and be able to say my farewells to everyone then.

It's funny -- as a parent, you ofentimes can't wait until they:
* grow up
* graduate
* get that college baseball scholarship

And then, when you're nearing the end, you desperately wish you could rewind the tape.....

Well Infield, you made me cry. I'm so sorry for your son and his team to have made it that far and to have been so close. That's baseball though and if you play long enough there'll always be heartbreaking moments like those. I wonder when the boys are playing in college if we'll look back on high school without the pain of that last loss??

This time with our seniors is so precious and we are all at a crossroads in our lives. Out with the old of 18 years and in with the new. Transitions are tough and will be tougher on us parents than the kids. Boys can be very emotional and sensitive as we've seen when they play their last high school game. It's sure been a fun ride that isn't just about moving on to college, it's about moving on from baseball that started for many kids with t-ball, then Little League, and so on up the ladder.

I hope we can count on the experienced college parents on this site to hold our hands alittle in the next few years.

CaBB, congrats to your son. That is awesome that those coaches recognized all his qualities.

I cried today. Its hitting me that he is leaving. He got released from the DII and is following the coaches to a DI. The DII ended up getting #2 in the DII CWS. Son is counting on the coaches to turn the DI around like they did the DII. He had signed early and everything was set. Now we have been scurrying around to get everything finalized and in to the school. It has been crazy, but it has kept my mind off the fact that he will soon be leaving. I will miss him.

First of all, HitaHomer1, allow me to congratulate you and your family for your son's "bump up"!!! How exciting! It sounds as if your son's college coaches have a lot of talent. If they were able to turn the D2 around and take it to the CWS, surely they'll have great success at the D1 also.

I'm sure you're going crazy trying to get all your son's ducks in a row at the new school. Hang in there!

I'm so sorry about the emotions you are feeling. I felt them earlier this summer and I know I will again in the coming weeks. A couple of days ago, I did some errands with my son and had a nice time with him. On the drive home I said, "You know, Dad and I are really going to miss you." He was quiet and didn't say anything. I then elaborated a bit, saying, "We're very excited for you as you head off to college and I know you'll have a great time there, but we'll still miss you a lot." Silence...... At this point, I don't think he's worried about missing us at all!

Hang in there. They say that time heals all wounds and I'm sure you'll be feeling better soon.

The reality of my son leaving is really starting to sink in now that all the excitment of graduation and the senior trip is over.

I have realized not only am I going to miss my son, I will really really miss his high school teammates and their presence around our house. I'm going to miss all the games, all the high school parents (well, most of them), and our coaches. And, especially our special principal that was such a huge supporter of the team (she's moving to another school).

And yet.......my son is really ready to move on and start his journey in the next phase of his life. As a mom I am so happy for him and want him to leave knowing he has our full love and support. In this months Better Homes and Gardens magazine there's a short article about letting go of your kids as you send them off the college. It said they can get more confrontational as they assert their independence and get ready to leave. The author said you have to treat them like fish- catch and release!

As we start getting all his stuff ready to go and do school clothes shopping I'm just trying to focus on the positives:

lower monthly water bill (no more 2 showers/day
Less laundry (fewer towells from above)
Save on gas as freshmen can't have cars
Fewer groceries- he and all his friends won't be eating everything in the fridge
cleaner house- above not around to make messes

So, off they go soon and I'm sure I'll only cry part of the way home!

We just found out that son's school has a 'Goodbye Breakfast' where the parents are supposed to say their goodbyes and then depart so the kids can get on with their lives. Breakfast starts at 8am....however, our flight is at 5am.....I can't change it because it involves connections in San Francisco and Tokyo (and I absolutely have to be back to work the next day).....I feel like dookie about this....I hope he still goes, because it kills me to picture him sitting alone in his room for this farewell event because we, right from the get-go, can't be there for him........I hope one of his suitemates' parents will maybe pick him up and take him to the breakfast.....but I think it would also be very hard for him to be there without us, when all the other kids are sitting there with their parents......I am hurtin' over this!

God Bless Us, Every One

Krak (hope it's okay I posted here, ladies....I know you understand my feelings here!)

Krak,
Not to worry. He won't be the only one in this situation, some nice parents will scoop him into their group and it will be fine. You will say your own goodbyes as a family, and he will be ready for you to leave. (Doesn't that sound harsh?) But it is true.

Last year I wrote about dropping my son off. We thought it would take a while to get him moved in the dorm and all, but there were lots of campus groups that were helping the freshman move in, so with their help it only took minutes to get him in the dorm. Then he was just looking at us, like "ok, see ya".

There was a band playing in the center of the campus village, all the kids were coming and going, the place was electric with such a high energy I was wishing I was the one starting this new adventure. But, the coolest thing was after all was said and done and we were heading out across campus, I take a look back and there was my son with his 6 new roomies heading in the opposite direction toward the bookstore. Just the body language was to obvious "We are young, we are here, we are free!"

These guys had never met and they were instant best friends and still are.
Of course the "free" part ended a few days later when baseball began

No worries. It will be fine.
(easy for me to say now, a year later

quote:

Then he was just looking at us, like "ok, see ya".

Mine was incredulous the other day when I mentioned taking him up to school. "You mean y'all are going up there with me????" he asked. He sounded as if he would have been perfectly happy to wave in his rearview mirror at Mom and Dad back in the driveway at home.

I had an emotional reaction the other day as I perused the aisles at Costco. I had a coupon for Oxy-Clean, which I have bought by the bucket-load for years, and realized that I will no longer need it to get son's baseball plants clean. Strange reason for feeling sad, but I was sad nonetheless.

Infield 08- same here- son thought we were going to drive him 12 hours to school and drop him off and go home! He couldn't believe there would be orientation stuff for us parents. He doesn't think he's going to miss us but I'm sure he'll have his moments.

Krak- I do feel for you. The good news is that parents that live close by will "adopt" Krak jr. Of all of us you are going to be the farthest away so you can post anytime here.

Thanks for the kind words