Nervous Mama

Today, I am a nervous mama. You see, tonight, my oldest child (he is almost 15) is going to umpire his first baseball game. He's played baseball from the time he was five years old. Last year, at the beginning of baseball season, he fractured his wrist (skateboarding) and was unable to play. Once the boys get to be 14 or 15, they usually start playing for the high schools instead of the youth league, and/or they umpire games for the youth league. He will be working two games tonight - both for the 7/8 year old machine pitch league. It's not that I don't have faith in him; he knows baseball. But, these kids who are umpiring this season, only received about a 30 minute training session. Two nights ago, he finally received the official rule books for the league. That didn't leave much time for studying. It all just seems very unorganized. If you've ever been involved with baseball, or any little league sports, you know that there can occasionally be parents, or even coaches, that are really hard on the umpires. I'm just scared that somebody is going to yell at him or be mean to him (and yes, that embarrasses him to hear me say that, but, I can't help it). He's a level-headed kid, usually pretty calm and mature. Seriously, I am so nervous I feel like I could throw up. I think this is worse than when I sent my kids off to kindergarten for the first time. On one hand, I want to go to the games tonight and sit there to watch out for him and support him. But, on the other hand, I think he would prefer to do this on his own. His dad is working tonight, so, he can't go to the games. I'm sure I will drop him off at the field, hang out for a few minutes, then come back home. Fortunately, there is usually an older/experienced umpire that the kids are paired up with for games. Keep your fingers crossed that things go smoothly. I'll be on pins and needles waiting to hear from him....