Father Knows Best

I'm writing myself out of a deep depression. Baseball season just ended with a lose in the tournament. Several months ago, clear back in February I believe, we made Jacob sign up for baseball. I say MADE and I mean MADE. He had a great baseball year last year, but had heard horror stories about kid pitch baseball and was not interested. "One more year Jake. Next year you can choose." We'd seen potential in the kid and wanted him to give it one more chance. It's hard to know when to push your kids and when to let them make their own darn decisions!

Well, the season got off to a lousy start. We knew a few of the coaches and were hoping to get onto one of their teams. The coach we got didn't seem too impressed with Jacob and quite frankly we weren't too impressed with him either. We were competing with baseball practices and soccer games on the same nights. The times we could make it to baseball it always rained. Go figure. Needless to say, Jacob was always in the outfield and second to last to bat.

Right about the time soccer ended, baseball games started and Jacob started to perform. We were out of town for a game and got a phone call from Jacob that he had gotten a single, a double and honorary game ball from his coach. Each game, the player they feel deserves it gets a signed game ball from the team. What a great tradition! Jacob started hitting more and more consistently and slowly started playing in field, short-stop, second base and even first base. "Coach, did you mean me? To first?" What fun to see someone else noticing how well my child was doing! And did I mention, Jacob now has 4 honorary game balls gracing his shelf?

For the last few weeks, Jacob has been eating, sleeping and dreaming baseball. He organizes neighborhood games, practices catching fly balls in the living room (I know moms aren't supposed to allow things like that, but I can't help it! I love it!), makes me pitch to him at the park and couldn't sleep last night thinking about the big game tonight. Saturday was a proud moment. He had a great game and the coach talked to us about the possibility of Jacob being on a comp team. I don't know if it will happen, but how great that he even considered Jacob. We went around glowing for the rest of the weekend.

So, they lost. It always has to end some way or another. The team really didn't play their best, but it doesn't make it any easier. Jacob was quite disappointed. We all were. But as soon as we got home, "Wanna play catch, Ben?" I love the confidence and enthusiasm that baseball has given Jacob. I'm so glad he chose to play. I'm so glad that Jacob got on the team he did. I'm glad I don't always get to determine how things work out. Father knows best. He knows what we need and how we can best get it. Great job Jacob! We're so proud of you!!