My son ran in the door just now with an energy I have never seen from him in his 8 years on this earth.

“Guess what, Mommy! I got an infield home run!”

My heart was LITERALLY bursting out of my chest.

Yes, I realize that my heart was not actually literally bursting out of my chest, but ever since Chris Traeger came to Pawnee, I have not been able to not use literally in literally every single sentence I speak.

My girls have always known who they are and what they are passionate about. Emily is my singer and my actress; my hip hop dancer and my guitar player. Isabella is an artist and a figure skater; a storyteller and a princess. The girls make friends quickly and they have planned their own playdates before I can even suggest them.

Josh marches to a bit of a different drummer.

While his sisters surround themselves with friends who are THEIR VERY BEST FRIENDS IN THE WHOLE ENTIRE WORLD, MAMA, OMG, Josh never really “clicked” with anyone in particular. He was always happy to play with anyone and everyone, but he didn’t have those friendships, the kind my girls had that included gabbing on the phone and sleepovers and day-long playdates. Josh has never had a best friend. In fact, he has never even had a great friend.

And while the girls are oozing with passions, and don’t have enough days in the week (or funds in the bank) to do all of the dancing and acting and swimming and music they desire, Josh was pretty lukewarm about, well, just about everything.

He took karate which he liked but didn’t love. He went to basketball camp which he liked but didn’t love. He played hockey which he liked but didn’t love. He swam which he liked but didn’t love. He joined a soccer team which he liked but didn’t love.

He was content, but not excited about anything.

Until now.

Over the last couple of months, Josh has clicked with a friend and neighbor from a few blocks down.

Suddenly, something very new is happening around Casa de Martell. Josh is talking on the phone and begging for playdates and having sleepovers and going to the park with Adam and bringing him along on family activities. He is excited about his friendship with Adam.

And  after all the karate and basketball and soccer and hockey and swimming, he has finally figured out what he loves.

My son is a baseball player. He is a great runner, a great ball thrower, a great batter. He gets better and better every single week. And most of all, HE LOVES IT. He looks forward to going and he is all smiles when he bursts through the door to tell me about singles and doubles and infield home runs.

It may have taken him a little bit longer to get here, but he’s here.

And I literally could not be more proud of him.