Then I
Became A Travel Ball Parent
"I used to have a regular
life. (Actually a few of my friends say that sentence
should say, "I used to have a life, period'. Actually it
doesn't seem that long ago. Then I became a travelball
parent.
I used to think $40 was
an exhorbitent price for a baseball bat. Now the
contents of my son's equipment bag are worth more than
anything in the house- including clothes, jewelry,
watches, and my laptop computer.
I used to be a leader in
my field of work. I still am. (You have to keep a good
paycheck coming if you want to support a travelball
habit).
I used to think a
doubleheader was a long day at the ball field. Now after
2 ballgames, we're just getting warmed up.
I used to look for little
resteraunts that served seafood fresh from the boat. Now
I am a connosseur of nachos and hotdogs and my kids rate
a city by the quality of a tournament's snackbar.
Sunflower seeds used to
be something I would see at a store and wonder who would
eat those things. Now I don't feel comfortable leaving
the house without a bag in my back pocket.
My lawn used to look like
a carpet. It was green, mowed, trimmed, and watered. Now
I have two bare spots fifty feet apart and dents in my
garage door from fastballs that got away.
My car used to draw
admiring looks and comments. It was clean and waxed,
shined and armoralled. Now it only draws attention when
it wins the "dirtiest car in the parking lot prize".
I used to have a garage.
Now I have an indoor batting area.
My friends used to spend
Monday monring talking about a round of golf or movie we
had just seen. Now I bore them to death with detailed
play by play descriptions of 5 or 6 low scoring
ballgames.
We used to sit and talk
for hours. We still do--however. now its to keep the
driver awake when we are headed home from a tourny on a
late Sunday evening.
My summer casual wardrobe
used to be made up of color coordinated polo shirts,
cool cottons in bright colors and an ocational aloha
shirt. Now, I have a closet full of t shirts that have
tournament names and competing teams on the back.
We used to spend our
summer vacations relaxing at the beach or visiting
family. Now, we hit the road with 20 of our closest
friends in a caravan that could rival some small town
parades.
I used to be concerned
that I would fall into the trap of living my life
through my kid. Now I know that I am privileged to live
my life WITH my kid!!!
Yes, I am a travelball
parent. What could be better? |