Lessons from a ballpark Momma

Where has she been?  You ask...(well, maybe you ask?) 

At the ballpark. 

The summer is filled with ballgames and evenings at the ballpark.  Big started competitive (using that term loosely some nights...) baseball about three years ago.  Middle joined in last year, and now we have Little playing Tball as well.  All at the same ballpark...and as luck would have it tonight...all at the same time.

I have decided that there are very valuable (and mostly common sense) lessons that have been learned over the past few years at the ballpark.  Often I think...if only someone had shared these things with me before I became one of "them".  Them being the Baseball Moms. 

Let me give you a picture of a baseball Mom.

Baseball Moms are dirty and gross.  We have dirt in our teeth, under our nails and in every possible crevice in our body.  We usually are sporting a supportive Tshirt of some sort.  We have tan lines from watches, flip flops and sunglasses.  Our hair is tangled...in a pony tail...or in a hat.  We are either buried under thirteen blankets shivering in a lawn chair or we are dripping with sweat from our chest to the seat of our shorts.  We attempt to look cute before a game, but it doesn't last long.  We are dragging giant bags of snacks, blankets, wet wipes, first aid kids, hand warmers, gloves, sunscreen and bug spray.  We are usually also dragging a cooler on wheels of some sort.  Some of us are lucky enough to have a four year old that tries to ride the cooler that continually catches on the back of my heels.  (only some of us are THAT lucky)

Baseball Moms have lots of knowledge.  And the longer we're there...the more we know.  Not about the game necessarily (in my case)...but in the ways of the ballpark.

For instance...tonight's lesson includes

Fruit snacks are a BAD snack for the cooler riding four year old when it is 103 degrees.  For one,they melt.  And for two, they melt.  Creating a giant sticky mess covered in dirt.  Little was filthy before his game even began. 

Jean shorts are ALSO a very bad idea.  If they are even the slightest bit tight.  Like just came out of the dryer have to lay down to button tight...you might want to grab some Nike shorts instead.  Something with give and elasticity.  Jean shorts and sweat do not mix.  Therefore...going to the bathroom can be tricky.  Actually it is getting the jean shorts back up that is the tricky part.  It is like trying to peel them off of my upper thigh.  Good grief. 

And finally...lip gloss is a no no at ball fields.  I am pretty sure I was wearing at least an inch of dirt in my gloss before the end of the first inning.  And really?  Who am I kidding?  No one was there to see my glossy lips. 

Big sigh.

I am tired and my brain is not working correctly.  I will have many lessons from a ballpark Momma to follow.  For tonight let's remember no lip gloss...no jean shorts...and no fruit snacks in hot weather. 

No need to thank me...:D

Have a wonderful night!

Referee of 3