Didn't Think Twice

Having 4 kids is hard enough. Having 4 boys has it's ups and downs. Yes, I don't have to buy all the prom dresses, and yes I won't have to pay for a huge wedding. I don't have to buy all the bows that match the tights that match the dress. Or the earrings that match the purse that pulls it all off. I won't have to tell my girls why that "dumb" boy didn't call her back, or worry that she didn't get asked to Homecoming.

But I'm guessing that a house of 4 girls won't go through a box of granola bars in one afternoon. I'm pretty sure that 8 pork chops wrapped in bacon could feed a set of parents and 4 girls ages 10,5, 3, and 2. I'm pretty confident that a house with 4 girls in it would probably be good with peeling just a handful of potatoes for dinner, that there would be no fighting over a pan full of rolls, and that thirds is probably left to Dad. I'm pretty sure that my grocery bill for the next 10-15 years will come pretty darn close to all those prom dresses I won't be buying. To tell ya the truth, I'm not so sure I got the better deal.
Having 4 boys is different. I'm sure most of it doesn't phase me because I'm a "Boy" Mom. I'd rather be at a ballpark than getting my nails done. I'd rather wear Under Armour pants than a pencil skirt. New Balance is my choice of shoe, rather than a 3 inch heel. And tailgating on a Saturday morning wearing a Pitt State sweatshirt and jeans beats shopping any day! So when I looked at my color coded calendar and saw that both Cade and Cooper had baseball games on a Saturday, one in Kansas City and one here at home, there was no question we were going to find a way to do both.

We're just beginning to see the consequences of having boys who love their sports. And while it's not completely crazy now, it's a glimpse of what's to come. Already a handful of times this summer we've had one kid at practice while one kid is playing a game. We've had two scheduling conflicts where one has a game in Pittsburg and one in Nevada, MO. (The 3rd time is in a few weeks.) And in a few more years it's only going to get worse. The problem is, how do you tell one kid who has grown up either watching his Mom coach or his brother play ball, that his game is less important than the other? You don't!

So, the Simmons family drove up to KC Friday night in 2 separate cars (Had to anyways because Eric left for Canada today.) to watch Cade play in his State Baseball Tournament at 7 and 9pm. We got back to the hotel, showered quickly, and were in bed by midnight. Woke up at 6am to shower and pack up Colton and Coop and begin the drive home for a 10 o'clock tball game. Texts were flying back and forth keeping one parent up-to-date on one child's game and the rain delay for the other's. Finished Coop's game at 11 and jumped back in the car to head back up to KC. The entire way there we prayed they'd win so we got to see the 1 o'clock game. It wasn't until we were 5 miles away from the ballpark that the first game ended 7-6 in favor of the Rookies and we were able to watch Cade pitch a great 3 innings in the next game. Had we just decided to stay home I would have missed it. And had they lost the game he was playing as we were driving up to KC, we'd have gotten there just in time to turn around and head home.
And while Colton is still at that "hard" age to have at a ballpark all day, or in a hotel room all weekend. And while I'd LOVE to just sit in the stands or next to the other moms to cheer and chat and actually watch an entire game without changing a diaper or taking someone potty. I realized that when I am finally able to do that, I'll probably be missing one child's game because I'm at another one's. And as I watched Cooper and Carston, and even Colton playing catch with all the Rookie siblings, I realized I'm probably going to have 4 ballplayers. When Cade is at JC ballpark, I'll probably have Coop at Wild Red Berry, Carston at Ted Carnino, and Colton at Deramus...all spread out. I'm sure I'll miss a great catch, or the go-ahead hit. But I can tell you this....if it takes driving to KC, back to Pitt, back to KC to watch both my boys play, I won't think twice about it. In fact, I never did!