Picture a tired father coming home from work. But, instead of sitting down before dinner, he changes clothes, grabs his baseball glove and a paint bucket of eighteen baseballs. He would walk with me to the baseball field behind my house to pitch batting practice to me. After he threw the paint bucket quantity, I would collect the balls and he would pitch another eighteen. Three dozen baseballs in total.

By the time we finished it would be dusk and he would be sore. I used to refer to him as my 45 year old pitching machine, but he was a tired person before we began. Being a father who worked, I know how tired he was when he got home. It meant a great deal to take batting practice with my dad pitching.

If any of you remember the pivotal scene in “Field of Dreams,” the adult son (played by Kevin Costner) asks his father if he wants to have a game of catch. That scene never fails to choke me up. “If you build it, he will come” referred to Costner’s father, whose last conversation with his son involved the son declining an invitation to play catch with his dad. Dad, can you pitch batting practice to me? He always said yes.

Three dozen baseballs is a metaphor. Parents spend time with their kids in a variety of ways sharing their passions. It could be reading, doing puzzles, cooking, exercising, dancing, singing, playing an instrument, etc. Just take the time. It creates memories for both sides. Even when you are tired.