Naps and baseball.

Daily writing prompt
What do you love now, that you hated when you were younger?

In response to today’s WP writing prompt – NAPS! 🤣❤️

I’m old. I know.

Once you pass 40, a nap becomes a beautiful thing.

When I was younger, I HATED naps.

My (Yia-Yia) grandma and my (Papa) grandpa used to make my brother and I take naps when we came home from school every day. They used to babysit until our parents got home from work, and we had to nap for at least an hour. They had a love seat couch and a regular one, so we’d pick our couches, lay down and proceed to make each other laugh, instead of napping.

If Papa heard us talking and laughing, he’d stand by the little area between the living room and kitchen and bang his cane on the counter.

We tried to shut up and go to sleep when we heard that, but one of us would always start laughing again, causing the other to start laughing. Eventually, we’d fall asleep.

As I got older, I no longer felt like I needed a nap, so my grandparents would tell me just to lay down and wait until my brother fell asleep, and I could get back up. That’s what I did for a year or so – before he pretended to be asleep one day and realized I was getting up and not napping anymore.

He finally told my grandparents he didn’t want to nap, and they no longer made us, but for the time they did – we hated those forced naps.

I remember him confronting them and yelling, “If she doesn’t have to take a nap, neither do I”. They didn’t even fight with him about it. They agreed.

Now that I’m 44, Naps have become lovely.

If I’ve had a long morning or woke up early – and have the time to nap during the day, I’m doing it!

It’s doesn’t happen often. I’m usually super busy with work, the kids, and just making sure everything gets paid or done, but the moments that I can actually take a time out and nap – it’s great. I love naps, now. Especially on a dark, cloudy, stormy day.

…………..

Now that we have that out of the way, today is a Baseball Day.

My little dude has a game not too far away.

We were supposed to have a Double-header last night, but it was storming most of the day, and the other team’s field was under water.

I can’t say I was disappointed because I wasn’t looking forward to that long drive, but they rescheduled for the 2nd week in July, so we still have to make that drive.

When I signed Elijah up for Baseball, I didn’t realize it was traveling Baseball, but I’ve done this before with my older son when he played Basketball. We used to have to travel to Wisconsin – sometimes for all day games. It’s not a big deal. It’s just a lot of time and gas.

I love watching Elijah play, and it gets him away from the video games, so I’m still going to travel to wherever they play, and yes – I’m still going to whine about it, but I know he loves the game, and he loves his coaches and team, so it’s all worth it. ⚾🧢

I have nothing for you today.

I shall go get my day started and maybe take a small nap. lol.

Seriously, love you all and whoever may come across this – I hope you have a fantastic day.

❤️Shel❤️

Baseball.

Good morning honey bunches!

My little dude had his second game last night for the team he plays on.

They played against another school.

Last week, they won their first game and last night – they won their second. ❤️

We traveled almost an hour away to get to that school, and it was a good game.

The coach from the other team drove me crazy because he wouldn’t just let the kids have fun.

He had to keep screaming at his team and he sounded like he was getting aggravated because our team kept scoring. These poor kids couldn’t concentrate on the game because they were hearing him all up in their ears.

I couldn’t concentrate on the game because he kept screaming plays at his team while they were on the field.

I felt like walking up to him and telling him:

I’m just being funny, but I seriously wanted to go tell him to let his team play and that nobody wants to hear him screaming every second.

He was calling his teams names so much, they didn’t know if they should look at the ball or look at him.

I love our coaches!

Our coaches were peaceful and quietly gave our boys advice and then backed off and let them do their thing – while encouraging them and cheering them on.

Our coaches know the boys have to concentrate and to leave them be when they’re on the field.

The boys know what they’re doing and if they don’t, the coaches will jump in and simply let them know what to do. Other than that, our coaches are calm, respectful, and know it’s just a game – win or lose.

I think after we were able to get many homeruns, he finally gave up and finally stopped screaming onto the field.

Still, our boys won. They did a great job. They worked so well together, and I was proud of my son because while he is still learning to bat a little better, the coaches did an amazing job at getting him to at least know when and how to bat. He was able to hit the ball and get to 1st base, and beyond.

I saw him smile on 1st base and it made me smile as a mother. He was proud of himself, and he had every right to be! 😊

I love that the boys on our team cheer each other on. I love that the other parents cheer each other’s kids on.

I will say that I feel so bad because I don’t know all of their kid’s names. I know a few of the kids on the team from being in classes with my son over the years, but I don’t know them all, so when other parents are cheering for the boys at bat – or out in the field – I just go with the flow and listen for who they’re cheering for.

I still feel a little out of place.

I’m not from here, and I don’t know all of the parents.

I’ve gotten to know a few great ones, and I’m so grateful that they’ve been so friendly and welcoming, so supportive and kind, but it still feels a little awkward to be around a bunch of people who grew up knowing each other, or who have been friends forever since they’ve all lived in this little town forever, and I just came here years ago.

Either way, Elijah is loving this and I’m going to keep driving him wherever he needs to go for games, and keep showing up to all of his games, rain or shine. Knowing everyone or not.

Feeling out of place or not.

I miss home.

I miss my people.

I miss my friends.

I miss my family.

I miss familiar places.

It’s been hard adjusting to life in this little town, and I’m always so blessed when someone I meet out here – acts like I’ve been here forever, and treats me like I’m one of them, so I thank them for that.

I think getting out and being around other moms and dads has been good for me because ever since my oldest passed, I haven’t wanted to be around anyone. I admit – I’ve isolated myself and have thrown myself into work and have avoided making new friends, meeting new people or going out – as much as possible, and I need to get back to living life.

I’ve had a few good laughs with the other baseball moms and dads and having great conversations while watching our kids play – has done something good for my soul. ❤️

I’m happy I got Elijah involved with baseball and on the team, and that he’s loved it and has thrived on it.

Remember when I said I volunteered to clean bathrooms and take out the garbage after two games because parents were asked to sign up to volunteer for something? I got out of that 2nd bathroom cleaning sign up because it stormed yesterday, and most teams were cancelling their games, so the main coaches’ wife messaged me – saying I didn’t have to do the 2nd clean up yesterday like I was supposed to. Like I signed up for.

Yay for that – because if you also remember if you read my last post – I had to scoop out (with many napkins) – Sunflower seeds from a urinal the 1st clean up I did.

Our next game is a long drive away, but that’s not until next Monday, so I have time to relax a bit.

I remember doing traveling Basketball and Football with my older son, so the traveling thing is nothing new to me when it comes to sports.

I think this Baseball thing is good for both my little dude and me.

In other news………………

I’m a little jealous right now that Illinois is getting storms, and it’s sunny and clear here.

I love a good storm!

Did I mention I miss home?

Part of my goals for the next two months involve taking on a 2nd job, getting my daughter’s bunny the surgery it needs, paying off some bills and a good chuck of my car, and saving to move closer to home.

Part of me thought of making our little town home, and just buying a house here.

I’d love for my son to continue to play on this great team and grow up playing with the same boys he’s playing ball with now, but I know my other kids and myself – could never fully be happy here.

It’s a tough situation and tough choices need to be made, but I believe wherever we move – my son will thrive in baseball, and I want that “happily ever after” wherever we are. Just my kids and I. I want us all to be happy.

I hate decisions when it comes to knowing what’s best and what our hearts really want.

Let me go get my day started.

Love you!

😊Shel😊