This season has been a tough one. The kid has faced adversity, more so than probably any time in his life. And, it’s been coming at him from all angles. But I couldn’t be prouder of his response…

I remember the days of coming home from a game, way back in the 90s, and icing my knees. Most times, it wasn’t ice, it was frozen veggies. I always preferred peas or corn, and thankfully, that was always well-stocked in our freezer. I don’t know that I believed in the power of icing or stretching, definitely not as much as I appreciate it now. 

I do, however, take pride in understanding it more now, and being relentless (and overzealous) about sharing my knowledge and passion on this topic with my student-athlete.

This week is tryouts week for the Freshman baseball team. Some of these kids played Fall or Winter ball while he was playing football and wrestling. It feels like they have a leg up, having some experience playing together and working with the coaching staff. Naturally, the kid is nervous. And I’m quite literally on the other side of the planet on a work trip in Southeast Asia, desperately wanting for someone to live stream the tryouts on Gamechanger so I can check in on him.

As we wound down our club ball experience for the high school year and transitioned to being football parents, I watched the kid change, too. It started with those summer sessions with a group that calls themselves the “Original 16.” Those kids that knew from day 1 they wanted to play high school football. The kids who showed up the day after middle school graduation to start their off-season training.

Thinking back on what I watched come together over the summer and throughout the season makes it so abundantly clear to me what was so very different about club baseball. It was about the individual. It was about the name on the back of the jersey, not the front.

Stretching is such a vital component to staying healthy, fit, and ready for the field. Yet it’s so often overlooked. Especially with younger athletes. 

That was especially true for my son when he had a growth spurt. Suddenly his legs and arms were longer than the day before (obviously, that’s a bit of an exaggeration, I think). And, he was thinner, more sinewy than ever before. He started complaining about aches and pains that weren’t there before. He was tighter before and after games

I’m not a big believer in New Year’s goals. However, I am a big believer in accountability and saying my goals out loud. If I own my goals and aspirations, I’m more likely to work towards achieving them. I also am inspired by a clean slate - whether that happen on Day 1 of a new year, the first buds on a tree in Spring, or simply after I complete a long project and have a literal clean slate ahead of me.

People come into our lives at different times to teach us lessons. I firmly believe this. Every November, when we celebrate my son’s birthday, I am reminded of one very special person who has greatly and indelibly impacted our family’s lives.

We all have that one person that stands out in our memory. Whether a coach, a teacher, a club leader, a Girl Scout/Boy Scout leader, a church leader…someone at some point in our life, if we’re blessed, we come across someone who truly impacts our lives in ways we don’t appreciate in the moment. But looking back, you see it clear as day.

It’s our first Rivalry Week with high school sports as a family. More importantly, it’s my son’s first time experiencing all the emotions and activity that come with Rivalry Week, especially as a football player. He gets to put on that jersey and helmet, wear his school colors with pride and a mission to represent for his community.

One of the most beautiful things about raising a kid is watching them experience life. The look of wonder when they learn something new. The sense of pride when they do something they didn’t think possible. The joy when you watch from afar as it all starts to click. Sure, there’s the pain of the failures. Nothing quite prepared me for how much I would hurt watching my son hurt - get cut, kick a play, etc. But you can’t learn without a little misstep here and there. Bouncing back is also part of the process and the beauty. You get a chance to try again.