Opening Day With My Kids

In my continuing effort to spend as much time as possible with my kids, we ventured to Opening Day for the Detroit Tigers’ 2009 baseball season!! The drive to Comerica Park was filled with conversation about everything and nothing; the hunt for a parking space (which took longer than the drive to the stadium!) was filled with advice from all 3 passengers; the time inside of the stadium was filled with high 5’s, laughter, and some conversation; and the drive home was filled with spirited conversations about our day.

Our seats, right behind home plate, provided the perfect glimpse of the entire game as it unfolded. All 4 of us were often simultaneously brought to our feet to celebrate another Tigers’ feat, including Cabrera’s long home run, Inge’s spectacular catch, and a host of other opening day goodies in the 15-2 win.

There was some discussion about strategy as the game progressed. At one point, I indicated that I had a feeling that the Tigers’ hitter, Adam Everett, would definitely hit the ball hard on his next at-bat. One of my kids, always looking to be the resident wise guy, said he thought that each batter should try to hit the ball hard. I then explained, with my vast experience of watching baseball, that Everett would it the ball hard and a long way, perhaps even a home run.

On the very next pitch, Everett hit …… a little tap about halfway to the mound. The pitcher made a bad throw to first base and Everett ended up on 2nd base. My kids had a blast with this one, as their dad’s prediction was about as far off as possible – from the predicted blast to the actual dribbler – well, I think that they’re still laughing about that one!

During the 5th inning, my youngest son told me that he believed that it was a good time for some “sustenance”! We ventured off to the concession stand and scored a few snacks, most of which lasted until the end of the game. The character behind us offered my son $5.00 and then $10.00 for his bucket of popcorn (I didn’t know this until the ride home). My son wisely chose to ignore the obviously inebriated customer!

As I indicated, the Tigers’ won 15-2 on Opening Day, but the main point of the day is that I spent the whole day with my kids at a baseball game, enjoyed spirited conversation about the game, shared some snacks, stopped for coffee and donuts on the way home (we were in the winning section for the donut, bagel, and coffee race on the big screen!), and, for a day, our minds were million miles away from the everyday stresses of life, as we enjoyed each other’s company!

While the area around the stadium is beautiful, the beauty quickly faded as we made our way back to the car after game, about a mile from the stadium. We saw various forms of everyday life on the streets, including homeless people, people camped out in vacant buildings, folks strung out on alcohol and/or drugs, and a few other scary moments. It was during this walk back to the car that I gathered much information for an in-depth conversation on the way home.

Back safely in the car, when one of my kids commented on the range of characters who populated the streets and sidewalks on the day of a game, I let them know that these folks live there every single day, not just on game days. It was then that I reminded them of their relative good fortune in life, as they have been well-taken care of, so that they have not had to live on the streets.

It was quiet for a few moments, but my planned main point of the day had been upstaged by a larger point; my kids, who enjoyed the whole day with their dad and each other, were also humbled at the fate and hardship of others.

After we got home, my kids quickly began to clean the entire house without prompting. It looks like they fully internalized the fact that they need to be grateful for all that the Lord has given to them.

Yes, a day at the ballgame was fun, relaxing, bonding, and educational for all of us. We need to do that again soon and, as one of my kids suggested, we need to find a way to continue to assist those who are truly in need. Yes, we do – and the sooner the better!


Paul W. Reeves

P.S. Oh, and one more thing - I hope that you enjoy the two photos that accompany this post. They were taken by my favorite daughter!

My Kids and the Tigers

As you are aware, I have long been an advocate of spending as much time as possible with your kids. While quality time is nice, it is the quantity time that will make the difference in your kids’ lives.

As our children are constantly watching and observing us, the more time that we give to them to watch and observe our proper actions and travels through life, the more likely it becomes that the positive aspects that we desire to see in our children will come to fruition.

After all, if they are not watching, observing, and learning from us, they will be watching, observing, and learning from somebody else, i.e., Sponge Bob, an unscrupulous character in the neighborhood, substance abusers in school, etc. (As a side note, this is exactly the dynamic that exists when kids join gangs – the absence of loving role models sends kids looking for love, guidance, and acceptance in all of the wrong places!).

Also, I have been a lifelong fan of the Detroit Tigers! I have missed very few Tigers’ games (radio, television, or in person) in over 40 years. I still read just about every article that I can find and I’m never at a loss for words when a friend or acquaintance desires to debate the latest happenings of my favorite baseball team.

So, when my love for my kids and my lifelong passion for baseball are combined, what could be a better way to spend time than going to …… YES, going to the Opening Day baseball game for the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park in Detroit!!

I actually get to spend the whole day with my three kids and the Detroit Tigers! Wow, what a terrific combination! Between the driving time, the walking to/from the game, watching the pre-game festivities, and the actual game, we will be together non-stop for about 8-9 hours.

This will give me 8-9 uninterrupted hours to let them observe me engaging in appropriate practices, conducting myself as an adult, and speaking to them about a myriad of issues, including baseball and life in general and, hopefully, they will learn a multitude of lessons that surround both The mission is set!

Yes, Friday will be a great and memorable day for us! As the kids get older, these extended all-day opportunities are getting fewer and fewer. It’s time to enjoy life to the fullest!

How about you? How do you find 8-9 hours of uninterrupted time to spend with your kids? Let me know!

Also, come back next week for my report on Opening Day with my kids!


Paul W. Reeves

My Hero Is My Dad!!

Every post in my blog has been written by me .... until now. For this post, I am acquiescing to my youngest son. He wrote a "HERO" paper for his 8th grade English class, in which he named ME as his HERO!

Unbeknownst to me, he selected me as his hero, wrote the paper without assistance, turned it in (he got an "A"), and that was the end of the story .... until his teacher called me to read the story over the telephone. To say that I was unable to speak for a few moments would not do justice to the feelings of warmth and love that overcame me at that moment. To count the number of tissues that my family and I later used would seemingly take a few calculators!

In all of the roles that I have taken on in this life, perhaps the most important one is the role of "DAD" to my kids. I have done my best to properly raise my kids; give as much quality and quantity time that I can; take care of their needs; teach them to love the Lord and all of His ways; attend all of their events; teach them to take on larger roles with greater maturity; and a host of other activities.

I suppose that, from this point forward, irrespective of what anybody else says, I have at least one person who believes that I got it right!

Below is my son's "Hero" paper:


What really defines a hero? Sure there are the people in our lives, like parents, who cook dinner, make beds, and hey, maybe even take you to a ball-game or two. But are those really the standards for heroism? Frankly stated, in my opinion, no it is not. A hero is one who goes beyond the average relational duties, such as someone who risks his life to save someone he doesn’t even know or one who inspires you to do great things.

My hero is my dad. This is no surprise because parents are often seen as heroic figures by their children, but it is more than just that. My father is, by all means, my biggest inspiration, as we are both percussionists. I’ve seen and listened intently as his drumsticks blow like a breeze over the drums and mallet based instruments alike. I myself cannot comprehend how he vigorously thrashes into spontaneous solos straight from his head, as I have attempted many times. I know that I may be as good as him one day, but at the moment I can only watch in awe and learn.

My dad is a hero for more than just his musical triumphs. He is also a role model; a leader. He’s shown me what to make of myself, how to live a life of happiness and how, in my later years, to be able to look back on my life and smile. He may not even realize he’s doing this! Through his subconscious teachings I gained a desire to constantly set the bar higher for myself and I have gained a greater self-perception and view of the world. What a difference one person can make.

I am not saying he is a God or holds any other ultimate title. He is just “Dad” and in being that has made me what I am today. If I didn’t have his influence in my life, I may have made some poor choices with dire consequences.

The trait that I admire most about him is that no matter how bad times are, he is still able to smile and crack a joke. I believe a happy-go-lucky attitude is the key to a successful life. Yes, I have had to come to terms with the fact that I am not the most athletic kid in the world, but that never stopped my dad from helping me practice with, of course, a strong positive attitude. He even volunteered to be my manager of my baseball team … twice!

My hero does do all the bare essentials of parenting such as transportation, care, bringing home a steady paycheck, and even cooking! But I appreciate him on a deeper level. I see him as the man I want to be.

Through being the very person he is, my hero has earned but all of the following titles: father, husband, son, coach, pal, role-model, and teacher. Above all, he is my hero, my dad!

Wow, thank you, son! You have achieved something that very few people have ever done .... you have left me speechless!


Paul W. Reeves

Grand Slam Home Run!!

With spring training in full swing and the Opening Day for Major League Baseball coming in just a few weeks, it is time to confess: Yes, along with my unnatural affinity for the Detroit Lions, I have a similar and also quite unnatural affinity for the Detroit Tigers!

From the days of Willie Horton, Al Kaline, Denny McLain, Mickey Lolich, and others from the 1968 World Champions through the days of Alan Trammel, Lou Whittaker, Lance Parrish, Jack Parrish, and others from the 1984 champs, and even through the dark days starting in the mid-90’s, up to the present day group, I am not sure that I have ever missed a game, in whole or in part, on the radio, television, or in person!

Also, I can’t remember a day on which I did not play baseball during my youth. Our days, long before the advent of cable television, video games, Internet, etc., usually began around 8:00 a.m. (or as soon as our moms would let us leave the house!) and then not end until dark, with the only breaks taken for lunch and dinner. Of course, on game days, we would stop much earlier to rest and get ready for the game. But, in any scenario, baseball has always been a huge part of my daily life.

So, it only seemed normal that my own children developed the same type of interest in the game. My oldest son had the perfect tools for a baseball player – long and lean with a quick swing, strong and accurate arm, excellent base running speed, and the ability to catch anything that was near.

However, despite our countless hours of batting practice at the local baseball diamond and the batting cage, he struggled to hit in games through about the age of 9 years old. Usually, the coach would place him near the bottom of the lineup and my son often did not play for entire games. He would get his three innings in the field, one or two trips to the plate, and then he would take his place on the bench. It was quite perplexing for me, as his tools were all in place, yet he struggled to hit the ball in games.

And then, the big moment arrived when he was 10-years-old: His team was involved in a game in which the following scenario was present:
a) His team trailed by 3 runs
b) The bases were loaded
c) It was the bottom of the final inning
d) There were two outs
e) A flame throwing 11-year-old was on the mound
f) And ….. my son strolled to the plate!

Well, for a dad who had worked endlessly worked with his son on his hitting skills and for a dad who previously watched his son struggle at the plate for his entire 4-year career, watching my son stroll to plate in such a pressure situation was almost too much to bear. If his career-long history held true, he would probably strike out, the game would be over, and my son would be viewed as the goat.

Here is how his at-bat unfolded:
1) First pitch – STRIIIIIKE – yelled the umpire (0-1 count)
2) Second pitch – Ball one (1-1 count)
3) Third pitch – STRIIIIIKE TWO – yelled the umpire (1-2 count)
4) Fourth pitch – Foul tip at the plate (still a 1-2 count)
5) Fifth pitch – Foul tip at the plate – (still a 1-2 count)
6) Sixth pitch – Ball two – low and outside (2-2 count)
7) Seventh pitch - ….. my son swung, made contact, and drove the ball long, deep, and far over the head of the centerfielder’s head!!!!

As the fatherly chills came all over me, I watched the runner from 3rd base score right away; the runner from 2nd base scored; and the runner from 1st base came all the way around to score! My son, running as fast as he could, began to round 3rd base. As he got half-way to home plate, the centerfielder finally picked up the ball and, before he returned the ball to the cutoff man in the infield, my son had crossed the plate for the winning run after his GRAND SLAM HOME RUN!

All of a sudden the hours of fatherly pitching and coaching had paid handsome dividends! My son was the hero and he went on to several years of excellent hitting for the rest of his elementary, middle school, and high school days. In fact, he almost never struck out again, as he had learned to make solid contact with the ball on nearly every at-bat.

The lesson learned: Never give up on your children in any scenario, particularly when they indicate an interest in an area or activity in life! My son, the previous strikeout king, had become one of the best hitters on his team for the next several years!

Yes, by hanging in there and never giving up, my son also learned an important lesson: Despite the odds of success and the repeated failures at the plate, his continued hard work led to personal success for him!!

Now, bring on the Tigers. The Home Opener is only 23 days away ..... I wonder how many of the Tigers struggled in their early years of life, but kept at it, and made it to the Major Leagues!!


Paul W. Reeves