Sports are a huge part of many children's lives growing up, especially for those who play competitive sports year round. For these families, they know how big of a commitment this is. My family knows first hand how time consuming it is to have multiple kids playing competitive sports. Our free time is most likely being spent at a ball field, but we wouldn't have it any other way.

1. For most kids summer meant all the free time in the world, but for ball players, your whole summer was spent at practice or tournaments.

2. Your parents took turns rotating who went to which kid's tournament each weekend

3. If you aren't playing that day, you are most likely watching your brother/sister at their games

4. You never have to find a catcher or throwing partner because you have your siblings and parents

5. Your parent has most likely been your coach at one point in your life

6. Staying in a hotel most weekends is nothing knew for your family

7. You and your parents closest friends are from playing on the same sports team

8. Car trunks are full of ball bags, uniforms, coolers, seeds, chairs, etc..

9. Scrapes, bruises, and injuries aren't anything out of the ordinary

10. New bats and gloves were the most exciting gift to receive

11. Making your performance a competition between your siblings but still rooting for them at the end of the day

12. Living by the line, "sorry we can't make it, we have ball games"

13. Knowing you can always count on your family to shout at the umpire for bad calls

14. Critiquing each other's games afterwards (out of love)

15. You wouldn't trade your ball-playing family for the world!

Thank you to my ball playing family, I wouldn't be where I am today without you guys!