I've been a baseball mom for a little over ten years. J was not quite 5 the first time he stepped onto a Little League t-ball field. In those years, I've learned several valuable lessons that I'll share with you now. Just in case you or someone you know is or is planning to become a baseball mom.
1. Baseball pants are only pristine before the first use. Once the red clay has touched the fabric, no amount of scrubbing and washing will ever get it all out again. You learn to live with it.
2. Taking your son to buy a cup and athletic supporter is only embarrassing the first time. You get over it.
3. Batting gloves have a life span of approximately half a season. At least according to J, who has a weird obsession with having new batting gloves.
4. Bats are expensive. Think triple digits. You will swear you are never going to pay such a ridiculous price for a stick to hit a ball with. You will cave.
5. Bats get outgrown, sometimes after only a season. See the above lesson. You learn to watch for sales. Big sales.
6. Don't worry if you don't understand the game or all the rules. You will eventually learn, especially after yelling something like, "Hit a grand slam!" when the bases are not loaded.
7. Metal cleat spikes make an oddly pleasant crunching sound on concrete.
8. If your son plays for any length of time, you will encounter many types of coaches. Some great and some not so great. Fortunately, it's usually the great ones who leave the biggest impression on young players.
9. All gloves are not created equal. J has three: a first baseman's mitt, a catcher's mitt, and an infielder's glove. Luckily, gloves are not as expensive as bats.
10. Nothing beats the thrill of watching your son get a great hit or make an amazing play. His pride and excitement in succeeding at the game he loves make all the time, money, and effort more than worth it.
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