Home Run Hero

Yesterday my son played in, quite possibly, the hottest t-ball game I’ve ever sat through in my life. 100 degree weather…not a breeze stirring. The field he played at had hardly any shade. I had dreaded going to this game all day yesterday. I hated it even more for him having to play in this heat. He balked the entire time he got dressed to play. He is so over t-ball at this point and told me he was ready to retire!! Ha!

Somewhere around the 3rd inning he dropped his water bottle in the dugout and spilled it. He was upset, but it was his turn to bat. I shooed him out of the dugout to go bat and assured him I would get him more. I paused to watch him take his swing and saw him arrive at first base. I cheered for him and then turned around to tend to his water bottle issue.

A few seconds later I heard loud cheering and screaming. I assumed the next child had taken his turn at bat and turned around to see what the wild commotion was all about. It was then I saw MY baby running from third base to home. I looked dumbly at one of the other parents and she said, “HE’S MAKING A HOME RUN!!!!”. O.M.G. My baby, my sweet precious baby who was ready to retire from baseball, was making his first homerun in his 2 year t-ball career! As soon as it clicked in my mind what was going on I was at the fence screaming and jumping up and down like a mad woman. He had done it!! And I? I had just about missed it all tending to his stupid water bottle!!! I have watched him at bat so many times that it just never crossed my mind that THIS would be his moment. I just figured it would happen a few years down the road when he had more experience.

After he crossed home plate he immediately ran to me and jumped in my arms. He knew he had done something great, but it still hasn’t registered with him exactly WHAT he did. But it was so sweet seeing his little teammates give him high-fives and hugs. I know it made him feel great.

It was absolutely worth every bit of sitting in that terribly oppressive heat to see that moment.