Baseball season is winding down. And we’ve been missing in action. The big opening day family celebration came and went a couple months ago. We weren’t there eating our hot dogs and mingling with the hundreds of other families involved in baseball like we’ve done for the past who-knows-how-many years. We were home doing our Saturday chores and jumping on the trampoline.

And you know what? I’m ok with that. It’s bitter-sweet. As much as I love to see my boy out there playing ball, baseball season is crazy. The multiple practices and games every week with little girls throwing tired tantrums at my feet are gone…the colorful craziness fading and becoming muted in my mind. Trips to every sports store in town to try to find the right color socks or belt are gone by the wayside. Coach gifts, treat duty, field clean-up, not-signing-up-for-team-
mom-guilt, picture day…all finished. And that’s fine by me!

The thing I’m not ok with is that my one son is done. He wants to focus on tennis and basketball and we’re good with that. But it’s the end of a part of motherhood I’ve lived for so many years. And it makes me sad. It wrenches my heart a little. I mean, look at this boy:
Who wouldn’t want to sit and soak that kid in for hours on end?

And then there’s cub scouts. Max had his very last pinewood derby a couple months ago. Then he got his Arrow of Light last week. And as much there are some things that drive me nuts about scouts, I couldn’t help but feel a little bit melancholy that it’s over. (Yes there’s boy scouts, but the shift is like a graduation…one that I’m not ready for.) It made me sad to see Dave and Max really working together to make that darn little car, and to know it was the last one. How could my one boy do this to me? How did it happen that he was just this boy:Who drew pictures like this:
And now he’s this one:Then Lucy had to go ahead and go to nursery at church. Ok, so I’m really actually totally good with that one. I got really sad the Sunday before her first week in nursery, and then after the fifth throw-your-head-back-and-hit-the-floor fit during Relief Society I decided I was ok with the transition.

Before I get too sad and tears start spilling out, I have to remember that along with sad “lasts” there are also invigorating “firsts.” And that’s the most amazing thing I’ve realized about being a mom: it just keeps getting better. Crazier, busier, but yes, even better.

But still…PLEASE don’t grow up so fast!

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13 Comments

  1. Shawnie – how cute is Max! I hear ya with baseball . . . it is really a lot sometimes – but at the end of the day – it’s so fun to watch them have fun, improve, compete, build friendships, be boys etc. . .

  2. Oh I am so jealous! I have three yes THREE boys playing baseball and that is all we do….every night all day Sat…
    I love basketball, football, swimming, tennis…but baseball….well you are really lucky in my eyes!
    I thought this was a really cute post!
    He is one handsome boy.

  3. I haven’t seen Max in forever!!!!! I can’t believe I still think of him as a toddler. That’s great that he is such an athlete. I’m kindof nervous about Tyler being so non-competitive this season. We might need to try something else besides football next time. So, baseball…too time consuming?
    -Jennie N.

  4. We are playing our first and probably last game of the playoffs tonite. I have to say that I’m ready to move on from baseball (and I think Cole is too). I love your latest posts. You have such a way with words.

  5. I can’t wait for baseball. Being that I only have ONE boy and he’s my baby, I will live it up as long as I can. And I hope I get two pictures JUSt like yours. So, so cute!

  6. I think this time of year bring to a close many of life’s little adventures. It seems that when every school year ends you notice how much your kids have changed and grown and you realize how many things you might never do again- for good or bad. I guess it’s like it makes you take a mental inventory of life.

    I’m just left wondering where in the world 2008 is going. I swear we were just in February and here it is 1/2 through May. Time slow down!!

    I too dread the thought of baseball coming to an end. I think it might be my oldest sons last year because the next league jumps to 9-12 year olds and the boy pitch. Since their pitching skills aren’t always as great as the coaches were, the games can last up to 2 1/2 hours. I am a girl that LOVES baseball, but on a school night even that might outlast my passion for the game.

    I love your photos of Max. You have such an ability to capture the moment. I love it. I’ll have to get some better shots of my boys in hopes to keep those memories alive!

  7. I won’t see the last of baseball for a VERY long time! With 4 boys, I will be a pro at baseball. I can see how you are sad though! Chin up and before you know it, he will be leaving on a mission and that is a whole other kind of last!

  8. As much as I sometimes feel like I can’t wait until my kids are a little (just so they can dress themselves and use the bathroom on their own!) older, I also am feeling like time is getting away from me…it’s all going too fast!

    Max is one cute kid. Loved the pictures!

  9. We didn’t do baseball either. Christian isn’t into it. Jacob loves it, but I knew I wasn’t up for it being pregnant and then having a newborn. I felt the guilt, especially because everyone out here is so into it. My neighbors gave me a hard time. Oh well, it was good to read your post. And everytime I heard people complain about the practices and long games I just smiled inside, and knew I did the right thing. Maybe next year.

    Okay, I think Max and Christian need to meet and be friends. Christian is totally into basketball and he just started tennis and he loves it. I think they are great sports for him to concentrate on. Remember all the cute boys that played tennis in high school??? Christian and his cousin are going to BYU basketball camp this summer, maybe Max could join them or next year???

  10. Treasure your firsts and lasts — for some of us there may never be a first. I have an 8 year old who won’t play baseball. He has aspergers syndrome(high functioning autism) His motor skills are very poor. Anyway, Shawnie, I loved this post — we need to treasure everything we get to experience with our children in life. Whether it’s with one boy or 7 boys, treasure those baseball games and cubs!:)
    PS — I have a second boy who is a baseball king!:) and my first — he’s got his own things he can be king of.:)

  11. You are so lucky to have gotten a son. He is a doll. They sure do grow up fast, it’s sad. At least you have beautiful pictures to look back on. You really know how to capture the moment. He will love these photos when he’s older.
    April

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