So you wanna be a baseball mom?

It's that time of year again. The weather is finally starting to warm up, the sun is shining later into the evening, lawnmowers are humming in the neighborhood…wait, what? Lawnmowers? Those are snow blowers! It's still winter and what a long, cold winter so far. But signs that spring is coming are starting to pop up! Tyler's high school team has started their "conditioning" in the gym and MLB pitchers and catchers reported to spring training. Yay! Another spring with a full calendar of practices, scrimmages, and games! I love every minute of it!

I still remember the day years ago when I stood in the baseball department at Dick's Sporting Goods buying a "cup" for my little boy. I have never been so overwhelmed or confused. I felt like a pre-adolescent teenager trying to keep the giggles away as I stared at the vast number of options in that department! And of course, because why would it be any other way, a twenty-something-ish male employee decided to ask me if I needed help in selecting the right one. At that moment I knew my life would never be the same.

I've learned a few things about being a baseball mom in the past several years. I thought I’d share a few with those of you just entering this fun season of life, or for those who can relate: 

1    1.  If you don't check pockets, you're going to end up with soggy sunflower seeds in your washing machine.

2.      Tom Hanks was wrong; there IS crying in baseball, and it usually starts when your kid has been on the mound for an entire inning, the bases are loaded, he keeps hitting batters, and he can't find the strike zone.

3.      Eventually you're going to reach for your wallet and end up pulling an athletic cup out of your purse.

4.      When they are young, they all look the same when they're out in the outfield, so that kid who's dancing Gangnam Style in center field could easily be yours.

5.      That dad who's sitting in a lawn chair outside the outfield fence, by himself, with a cooler and a stainless steel cup, instead of sitting in the stands with the moms? He's no dummy.

6.      Never go to a game without clothes for all four seasons…..you never know what type of weather you will have.

7.      Don't even think about putting groceries in the trunk of your car until you remove the lawn chairs, two golf umbrellas, blankets, jackets, extra clothes and bat bag.

8.      Wait until after the season to get that pedicure...the baseball dirt mixed with sunscreen stains your pretty feet anyhow.

9.      Carry toilet paper and hand sanitizer in your trunk. Do not trust that the Port-A-potty has either one.

10.  Know your baseball lingo.  You don’t want to be known as “that mom”.

11.  It's okay every now and then to say prayers such as.."I know, dear Lord, that there are tsunamis, earthquakes and starving children, but if it is Your will, could you please, oh please, oh please, could You just get my boy on first base safely in any way that You possibly can? Thanks much. Amen."…..to yourself, of course.

12.  When cheering for your teenage son, never refer to him using any term of endearment such as honey, baby, cuddlebear, or snookems.

13.  Your spring and summer diet will primarily consist of nachos, hot dogs and popcorn.

14.  There is no room for laziness with uniform cleaning. I have spent hours at my kitchen sink hand scrubbing white baseball pants.  My advice?  Soaking them overnight in a combination of
Fels-Naptha and Oxi-clean. 

15.  Do not and I repeat, DO NOT, take it upon yourself to yell, "Balls in, comin' down", when you get tired of waiting for the game to start.

Lastly, enjoy it. Being a baseball mom is satisfying. It is nice to spend the days outdoors indulging in the dreams of your child. One of the most important gifts we can give to our children is the continuous, comfortable and steady support that often means their life takes precedence over our own.