Somebody help me find a post PLEASE!!!

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I will be dropping my dd off at college next Friday!!! I did not need this post today. I didn't read any of the sentimental things. I will save that for December when I am not so emotional! She will be playing softball for her school and I am going to try and look forward to that an not dwell on the fact that she is no longer at home (where I can keep an eye on her) but at a school that will help her to grow into the young woman she needs to be to succeed!! Good luck to all the dd's who are heading off to colleges all over!! I hope you all relish every minute of your time in the classroom and on the field!!

 

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My DD is going into her third year of 14U and is going to be a freshman. I have coached her since t-ball, including her middle school team, and have loved every minute of it. This week we made a difficult decision to not have our own team this year, but to join a different organization and team. When I took her to the private tryout, we talked about it all the way there, along with her mom. Once we got to the field, she warmed up with a catcher that joined us. Once the new coach arrived, I spoke with him briefly and then he walked toward the field she was warming up on. As I looked back and saw him approach her and start talking to her, my eyes began to tear up. I thought "this is it. I'm done coaching her."

After the tryout in which the coach offered her a spot, we discussed a bit on the way home. Once we got home, we talked about it more and I told her it was her decsion. After a few minutes of quiet, I asked her again what she wanted to do. When she didn't answer I looked at her and she had tears rolling down her cheeks. I asked her what was wrong and she said "but you won't be my coach anymore, dad." I lost it! Tears rolled down my face and then her mom let loose too.

I was prepared for this to happen during the high school season but I honestly thought I would coach her through 18U travel. I know she will continue to work hard for her new coach and I will always be proud to call her my duaghter. But, I will always remember the days of coaching my DD as some of the best times in her childhood for me. Even when we were losing and playing poorly. Even if she was struggling pitching or she made a couple of fielding errors. We had our moments, no doubt, when I wasn't happy with something she did or she wasn't happy with something I did. But now I know for sure, she loved it as much as I did.

I'm going to enjoy the next 4-5 years, and maybe more, of sitting in my lawn chair and watching her grow as a ball player and as a young woman. But I will definitely miss coaching my DD.

Daddy loves you 27.

And......my cheeks are whet again.


By the way...where can I buy a lawn chair?

OH MY....folks I didn't intend to start this tear fest. Matt Pope, that was a great one. Dad of 27...that one killed me. Thank God my wife & kids are away for a final end-of-summer fling or they would hear me in my home office sobbing. Man I thought umpires were tough.........the memories are tougher still.