You’re Gonna Miss This…But….

Those wild younger years..they are so so so so much fun. (Yes, shitty grammar there with all those so's, but you know what I mean. The excitement.

Then, one thing leads to another and before you know it you have a closet full of tshirts, are dashing from one field to the next, and taking your summer vacation time to hang out in crappy motels (with a pool of course) to travel to tournaments and get your boob sweat on in yet another state.

Been there. Times 4.

It seems like suddenly in a very dramatic way actually, those little kids that you've been watching play ball have grown into young women and you are approaching those last games, those last seasons, and you already feel a little boo-hooey and are getting all worked up...and your girl is too. And literally so is everyone..

Let me stop you though...just for a second to give you an honest dose of reality.

Our brand of parenting has gotten so far away from our own parents - who basically told us to go outside and play and be back by dinner, with no idea of where we were, where we went - that we are losing ourselves, our marriages, our dreams, our friends, our interests and hobbies...

And this doesn't teach our daughters much.

If they think parenting is about over buying, and over gifting and taking out second mortgages to pay for travel ball expenses, and literally driving ourselves into the ground to make sure we are everywhere, and do everything for our kids - - not only are we making them entitled, but we are also going to be pretty disappointed when they fly the coop.

You will miss watching her play, but the advice here is to make sure that you have your own interests and hobbies and that sometimes you remember that you had dreams too.

START THINKING ABOUT THEM NOW... or else you will be lost.

Start seeing free weekends as time to spend with your other significant family members, or to maybe visit those state parks. Take up pickle ball? To hell with that sleeping in...

Look forward to not being chained to the seat in your car, and feeling like you can't keep up with anything because you are always running. Keep up with your roots. Spend that bat money on botox.

THE POINT...it will end. You can prolong it, but it will end. And you will be faced with YOUR LIFE that can be pretty empty when you are constantly filling everyone else's cups.

Start making bucket lists of things you want, or maybe WANTED to do.

We aren't pooping on you here because you are an invested, involved, loving parents whose world revolves around your kids. The thing is, we want you to have your Plan B, your fallback. Get geeked about it...

If you don't start thinking about that lake house, or the camping, or the hiking, or the wine tasting,. or whatever it is you think about doing for fun NOW...you will be in a bit of a depression when that time comes.

Give yourself something to look forward to, instead of something to feel sad about.

Tell ya something else, it helps set your kids free too. It's hard enough being that age where everything in your life changes and gets real, real fast...add being responsible for your parents depression and that only makes it harder.

Plus, softball (and all the other things) are only things that she did...They were her hobbies and interests and passions - her bucket list. How blessed were you to go along for the ride. But those things she DID, were not WHO SHE IS....and you still got her. Always and forever.

So chin up parents...not only is her life just beginning, but GUESS WHAT...yours is too.

Even if all you dream about is keeping your grass  cut and maybe a small garden...the future, and finding YOU again is gonna be FUN!