What is it about Little League that brings out the best and the worst out of Moms? I have such vivid memories of how my own mother loved to go to the games; she and about eight or ten others would line up their aluminum and nylon lawn chairs that were a spectrum of 1970's colors, sit down and chat, chuckle and cheer for their sons. They cheered and hoped for each other's boys, as much as their own, even on the opposing team. Sometimes they sat at the end of their seats, sometimes covering their own eyes or looking away when their sons were up at bat, or they would be nervous for each pitch and play. Some of them, like my mom, were the coach's wives and called upon whenever the team needed something, someone had a question or was injured. She was the chauffeur, babysitter and ‘whatever you needed lady.' It was far before cell phones and email, so she was the one to call each player for practices and rainouts, on the rotary, hardwired phone. She and the other moms sold Shoprite soda cans and candy out of a cooler at each game to raise money for the end of the season picnic. She is still friends with many of them. She will run into one from time to time and recollect what good times they had watching the boys play baseball. Many of the players have found me and my siblings through Facebook and wrote notes telling us of their fond memories about Little League.
So, its 30 years later, and I can't believe how much has changed. Now, I am the baseball mom, the coach's wife and the ‘whatever you need lady,' and I am glad to be, honored to do that for my son and all the boys. So now, it’s email and texting instead of a rotary dial. More moms have successful careers but long to be that Little League mom every once and a while and make every effort to be there. There are just a few rainouts and most can walk to the field. We do not have to sell cans of soda and candy to have a picnic. That is part of the league fee. Today, there is a core group of moms and coaches, who understand that lessons in baseball are in playing baseball and not from the adults imposing in the game or in the stands. It is a time of joy and competition for the boys, a time to be individuals on a team; learn how to function and be responsible for their own work in a larger group; a moment to feel like a successful boy, as himself; a time to win with honor and lose with courage and most of all, a time for them to become friends. So after all these years, the one thing that has remained is our best place to be is to sit, chat, chuckle and cheer on all the boys, even on the opposing team.
Go Teams of our Sons!
