By now you may know that my family just wrapped up the 3 season of baseball to which we were a host family to some players. Being a host family means you take in a player and give them a bed and a place to shower during the time they are in town playing ball. Our first summer season we only had one player. Our second summer season three players. But this winter season we had eight. Yes, eight players in our home. Crazy? In hind sight, probably.

See, originally we were taking four players. That put two in our next gen apartment and two in one of our rooms upstairs. Then slowly but surely players and people were approaching me needing a home themselves or telling me of players who did. I couldn’t say no. By now I’m sure you also know that I have a hard time with that too, saying no. Especially when it comes to helping people. Even if it really puts me out, costs too much money, stresses me to all hell, oh yeah, especially then. Told ya I have a problem.

When all of the guys were shuffled around and guys were finally settled in their host homes I had eight guys. Eight grown men extra living in my house. Eight.

I slowly realized that I may be needing a class on saying no at some point but I knew this season was only a month long and thought “what the hell, we’ll get through it”. I, of course, told my guys that they are welcome to anything in my home, food and drink wise, and told them my rules. There were a few bumps in the road and trying to keep these dudes quiet during my boys bedtimes in the beginning was repetitive but I will say it could have gone a lot worse.

My boys kept the players busy playing basketball and video games on the weekends. We took a trip to LA and even Magic Mountain. We. Survived.

DonAndre, Trevor, Donald, Evan, Jacob, Jordan, Rj, and Aaron, it was a pleasure to host you all and good luck on your future.

I have written this letter to any players that will be hosted by a family who is willing to take in complete strangers to help them pursue their dreams of playing ball.

Dear player,
First and foremost, keep in mind that the people you’re soon to be living with are doing this out of the kindness of their hearts. If your host family has children, that’s even more of a big deal that they are doing this. Imagine adding to their already full plate. Be polite, and then even more polite. Pick up after yourself in the moment. Don’t wait for hours and let your mess sit there before its cleaned. Remember this is THEIR house. Them leaving a mess is way different than you leaving one. And then leave it a little more clean than it was. Pay attention to the kids. If you’re spending time in the house when the kids are around, talk to them, hang out with them. Those kids think you’re super cool and it means the world to them. If your host family has a few rules, live by them. Show them they can trust you, a stranger that they welcomed into their home. Be grateful. Be thankful. Be appreciative. Be someone those kids can look up to and someone the parents are glad to have them looking up to. Be kind as these people will probably be some of your biggest supporters.
Past, present, & future Host Mom

If you ever have the space in your heart and in your home to host a pro player chasing his dreams, I promise it will never be short of an adventure.

Play ball.

Raisin’ Hell and Gentlemen
xoxo Host Mama