Parents get it all of the time... "Why do you pay so much for you kid to play softball?"

Growing up and playing softball, I never thought about how much it is to go to a tournament. It never crosses your mind when you are actually playing the game. But, if you include hotel stays, tournament fees, food, and gas, it adds up to be pretty costly for just one weekend. Let's not forget having to buy uniforms (if you don't already have a sponsor) and having to buy all of the equipment, and if you were anything like me, you were pretty hard on the equipment that you got, so, just about every year you had to maybe get a new glove or a new bat, maybe new cleats. It adds up and fast, but, my parents never ONCE complained to me about it. Here is why.

They were not paying for the materialistic items... No, they were paying for my growth as a woman.

All of those times that I wanted to quit so badly, my parents wouldn't let me. I didn't like it at the time but if they would have let me quit, what would that have taught me? Them not letting me quit taught me how to be a teammate and a member of something. Don't start something if you aren't going to finish it. This has become one of the biggest pet peeves of mine and I cannot stand to see someone love something so much and then just quit. I am a victim of the circumstance and, of course, I got back into it!

I learned how to be a good teammate and an even better friend. Without that, I probably would not know how to work well with others. All of those times that I wanted so bad to get mad and yell at someone that messed up, I was taught that that is never the solution. I learned how to handle situations like that and I learned how to handle confrontation.

I learned to deal with defeat and disappointment. All of those second place trophies and participation shout outs taught me that there is always more to life and there is always a good situation that comes out of defeat. We lost, but another team won! It's all about making something positive out of the negative.

I learned to be humble. Just like all of those second place trophies, there were just as many, maybe more, championship trophies. Everyone loves to win and be on top but it is how it is handled. My parents paid to teach me to be humble when I am on top and grateful when I am on the bottom.

I learned that practice makes perfect. I don't go into something thinking I am going to be the best. I have been taught that it takes time to learn how things go and how to work to make myself better. I don't just jump into anything.

My parents paid to mold me into a strong, independent but dependent woman. They didn't pay because they had to...They paid because they wanted to see me be the best version of myself that I could be and without softball, I would not be who I am today. It had it's ups and it definitely had it's downs but I never once hated the game. There are so many things that softball taught me but we would be here all day.

Current players: Don't forget to thank your parents. You may think it is just a sport and you may be sick and tired of it but just know that in the long run, it will be the best time of your life. Cherish those many, many, boring hours in the car and love that down time between games because these moments are when the most memories are made. You WILL miss getting those moments with your family.

Former players: I'm sure you know where I'm coming from. So do me a favor, thank your parents!