If you look closely at my photo of the path with flowers, you can see snow! Is this baseball weather? I captured this snapshot several days ago on my walk through the Oregon State campus as the snow was quickly melting. I had some time to spare in the early morning hours before the regional tournament for the Columbia Empire Volleyball Association, so I enjoyed a quiet walk to a coffee shop just outside of campus. I like to make the most of little, unplanned opportunities to feel like I'm on vacation. And I'm glad I was at OSU for my daughter's volleyball tournament instead of my son's baseball games. Although it felt like a refrigerator in the Truax Center, it was even colder outside. And it's almost May!

Even if the weather doesn't look like spring, there is a change in the air among sports parents right now. The shivering parents in the baseball stands are in the middle of their seasons and looking forward to some warmer days. There is plenty of baseball ahead. Some volleyball parents, on the other hand, are welcoming the end of the season soon. There is an interesting hum in the air - and it's not from honeybees. As with any sports season, there seems to come a time when you feel ready for it to end. Time to move on to something else for a while.

The cold weather wasn't the only thing that felt bitter during the weekend. That hum I heard was the sound of some parents and players venting their frustrations about situations involving coaches and other parents. It's easy to get caught up in the conversations, and I found myself walking a fine line between listening and gossiping. Yes, there was the chaperone parent who did not show up at the hotel to do her job. And there were times when the coach was extra tough on some of the players. And there was the new girl on the team who seemed to be getting more than her share of playing time. These are definitely things that grab us and create an emotional response within us. It's what I choose to do after I feel that grab within me that will take me one direction or another. I hope that words I shared with others helped to create understanding and did not add to the grumbling hum.

My focus was to keep in mind what truly mattered in each situation and how I could help my daughter learn to be a better player and teammate in the process. When the chaperone parent failed to show up, I was glad that I was able to spend the night at the hotel and take over the responsibilities. If the coach was a little too tough on a player, I tried to be understanding of what she was trying to accomplish and how she was trying to help the girls. (Also, I kept in mind that the words a player hears are not always the same as the words that have been spoken. I know my own kids don't always hear exactly what I am saying. Do yours?) If playing time seemed to be unfair, I waited to see if it evened out throughout the weekend, and it did.

If it is snowing in April, then I can choose to make the most of the opportunity - take time to enjoy a walk in the crisp morning air, delight in the flowers along the way, and get a photo to share with you. This is the path I chose, and it took me to a quaint little coffee house that warmed my hands and my heart.

We may not be able to sit down together for coffee, but you're invited to join me at www.dearsportsmom.com or become part of this group. I'd love to chat with you.

Laura