First Road Trip of the Season

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Today our Legends players and coaches left on their first road trip of the season.They are playing at Greensboro and at Hagerstown. Our job (and privilege) is to see off the team with a goodbye and goodie bags. Each host parent is responsible for their player's goodie bags. The hour or so we were there was filled with a flurry of activity from the team as they loaded the bus with equipment and enough personal things to last them the week they'll be gone.

 The host parents are available during the send off for hugs, encouragement.. and food! Of course, always food. Even during the season food is very important to our young, always hungry guys (do young men come any other way?), but at the beginning of the season it is crucial. Players are not paid for their time at spring training and are anxiously awaiting that first paycheck of the season. They have been busying themselves finding houses and apartments to rent..prayerfully with a roommate or 3 to help with expenses. I'm thrilled to know that one of our three guys will be living fairly close to me, that makes it easier to help out when needed.

To me, being a host mom is basically like being a parent of a college student living nearby. They don't need you in their business or their daily lives..independence is key! But they do need someone to be there to cheer them on, to bring them food, to take them to dinner, to make sure they have everything they need. Now of course some players are going to need/want far less than this and some may need more. Just like your own children.. each one is different and special and should be treated accordingly.

I have taken in several teens over the last few years into my home, and so though I have not been a Baseball Host Mom before, I have been down this road in many ways. I adore being able to spoil kids far from home, to do what their mamas would do if they lived close enough, to be a support system. It's what I do best.

 I am thrilled to find out that I will get to meet Kyle's real mama next Friday, his first day being scheduled to pitch for the Legends. We weren't originally planning to go Friday (we definitely can't make all the games) but it is our goal to attend every game we can that Kyle or Jason is pitching, and as many as we can to see Alex play as well. As a short stop hopefully he will get lots of playing time.


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For those who asked what I put in my goodie bag for this trip, I will share it here. Recipes will be on the Recipe page above... (that's the "Apple Pie" part of this blog)

2 Cinnamon Streusal Mega Muffins  *                                             a couple Granola bars
8 Chocolate Chip Mini Muffins   *                                                   Trail Mix
6 Chocolate Chip Cookies (the recipe on the bag of chips)             Bottled Water
White chocolate pretzel mix (2 bags - this is yummy!)  *                Potato Skin Chips
Beef jerky                                                                                       Charleston Chew candy
Slim Jim Sticks                                                                                  Several packs of cheese and/
Sunflower seeds                                                                                or peanut butter crackers

I felt like I should have put more, since they will be gone for a whole week, but the budget didn't allow for it. Next time I want to add some fruit, more jerky, and the deli meat the guys asked for, too...