I have just spent seven hours–SEVEN–at the ball-field watching my son and his team play baseball.
A double header.
For practice.
He’s going to have many more of these over the summer, as well as two-hour summer work-outs the entire month of June from 7-9am, and various batting practices and the like until school starts.
Because we aren’t a “ball” family and he’s only played once for his high school team, I don’t know precisely when actual practices start and the season commences, but I remember alternately freezing and frying at the games so I’m thinking it’s like March through May.
I don’t remember all these scrimmage games and I have a vague recollection of the workouts, but…is this normal? Do all high school teams do this? I played tennis in high school, but we didn’t do any of this. We practiced a little after school, then went to the games. There was very little pressure. It was a laid back, win-some lose-some kind of attitude. We didn’t prepare like these kids do. Again, normal?
What does this have to do with writing? Other than the fact that I’m not getting any done, nothing. 
But I was curious about your response. Do any of you out there have any experience with this baseball thing? Tips and pointers? (Like how to get the white pants clean? )
These are things I need to know, and I’ll send a copy of my June release LETTERS FROM HOME for the best advice. 
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Yes Rhonda, this is the norm. Your only relief will be when he turns 16 and can drive himself. And no, white baseball pants don’t come clean. All you can do is spray and saturate with every laundry aid available, throw them in the washer, say a little prayer and hope for the best. You will load your car with blankets for when it’s cool and sunscreen when it’s hot. A stadium seat for the bleachers cos those darn things are not made for anyone’s butt. And who knows, you may even get a story out of the million conversations going on around you while you watch your son play ball.
There now, wasn’t I just a ray of sunshine! And speaking of sunshine, don’t put me in the drawing cos I have the book and I have a date with a pool float to read it a little later! Have a great day!
We’re doing little league here, and it’s a ton of fun, but not nearly the pressure that older kids have. It’s sort of fascinating watching the competition level in boys develop as they do. My son (now 10) never used to care about winning or losing, it was about having fun and being social. Now, that’s still there, but the testosterone is starting to blow. You can see all these little mini-men starting to get into the game and start practicing seriously to be better.
I have no experience with your sitch, only I second what Sherry says. Get him a license and let him chauffeur himself around. She sounds professional.
I tried Zout and Shout and nothing seems to completely remove grass stains.
I love baseball. Not the game actually, but the magic of it.
Sorry I can not be of any help, I never really got into baseball… I am a volleyball girl…
We did swim team. You can get a lot of writing done at a swim meet. And no grass stains.
Rhonda, my son plays baseball almost year-round. When spring league ends, we start the All-Star tournaments. That goes into Fall Ball, and now that he’s nearing High School (he’s 13) we’ll be doing some state university sponsored program too. Like Sherry said, I travel year round with a sun umbrella, rain umbrella, folding chair and two blankets (one to wrap around one to sit on), gloves, a hat and ear muffs in my trunk. They’re just always there. I am always ready.
But ironically, it’s baseball that lets me get the bulk of my writing done. You see, that’s my husband’s job. He does the driving around and practices and that’s my time to write. I only attend the actual games–the live ones that count, not scrimmages.
We just counted the other day, this is our 8th year in baseball and my son’s 5th year as an All-Star. We’ve done some of the USSSA travel ball stuff, too, just for the torture of it.
What has me curious is that you didn’t mention anything about the politics. I take it you haven’t been exposed to any of that, yet?
Lori, you’d be the mom I was always borrowing stuff from if you lived in my town! Honestly, I try to pack like you do, but it seems I always *just* moved the one thing I needed out of the car for one reason or another by the time I get to the field. Thankfully, I have awesome, well prepared friends who help keep me dry, warm, seated, and protected from sunburn.
Rhonda, that’s my advice… find a Lori in your town to increase your preparedness odds
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Sherry, great advice! Hope you enjoy the book.
Kathleen, I have since heard that Iron Out is supposed to work best for the red dirt stains we have here in Alabama. Will be hitting Lowe’s for that today.
Colleen, my girl played volleyball. Loved it!
Heather, the grass and dirt stains are truly horrid and no writing time to be found at the baseball field. Wish we had a swim team. That would have been nice.
Lori, this is a small school where everyone plays, so there’s really no political interference, which is nice.
Congrats on the new release, Rhonda. I don’t play baseball, but I like to watch it. If you arrive early for a game, you get to observe batting practice, running and fielding drills.
Hi Rhonda! My son did the track team (We didn’t have baseball at his school). But still some of the same issues with long practices! I stayed for the games always but for the practices, I let him have those while I went and did chores. But when I did stay those games and practices, I always bring books with me to read and LOTS OF WATER! Really need it in the heat. Just have one of those bags that you can keep cold items in and have your water or drink always cold. (Or in the colder months, always keep a blanket in the trunk). I’m not a writer but I think some authors use a alpha or something that they can carry and write with?
Too Rhonda, after baseball there is other sports, so it ends up being a year round thing you’ll be going to! I do have to say tho, that my children now are young adults and I’m done with that
noi dont but i love sports an d baseball. maybe u can take him to a batting cage for swinging. the pants thing he will get dirty lol
congrats on the blaze an dgret reviews. love men in uniform whoo
good luck good luck with your son and baseball
go a’s
Rhonda, sadly I’ve got no advice for you at all–I wasn’t the sporting type and my kids seemed to have fallen not too far from the tree in that respect. I’d just say to bring reading and/or writing material with you for the times when you aren’t watching him actually play
And as Caffey said, something to keep your water cold in hot weather and some shade (a hat at least); in colder weather, leave a blanket in the car so you’re always prepared 
Have fun! As long as your son’s enjoying himself, team sports seem a great way for kids to have a great time with friends and to get exercise!
Such good advice I had to make my daughter choose a number between 1 and 10 and she chose #8, Caffey! Caffey, if you’ll send me your snail mail to Rhondanels@aol.com I’ll send you your book!
Thanks everyone!
Congrats Caffey!
wtg cat hie u so lucky
Thanks bunches Rhonda! I’m thrilled to read it!!!