Ashley Proctor's husband has been deployed since late last year, but because Kacey is in the National Guard, she is separated from other wives going through the same experience.
Last week, Ashley and her 4-year-old son Mason, were granted an opportunity to engage with other families facing military deployment during a St. Louis Cardinals baseball game on behalf of the Veterans United Foundation.
"All of the moms were in the same boat I was in, which was really neat because we're not on a base since he's National Guard," Ashley said. "We're on our own and we don't really get to talk to the network of people that if you were full time military you would have available to you. So we were with others who are in the same position that I'm in, raising their kids alone."
Not only has Proctor maintained her full-time job at First Midwest Bank during her husband's deployment, she is raising Mason, 1-year-old Lincoln, and is currently nine-months pregnant.
Through the Columbia, Mo. based Veterans United Foundation's event, about 15 Missouri children were introduced to baseball players, commentators, and made memories Proctor said will last forever.
Aside from meeting Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon and multiple Cubs players whose names she did not know, Proctor said former Cardinals player and television commentator Al Hrabosky, known as "The Mad Hungarian," and Mason had a lengthy conversation.
"(Hrabosky) came over and talked forever," she said. "He sat there and talked to Mason forever and he loved it. He thought it was so cool."
Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright said hello to the group, while the rest of the team waved as they passed by heading onto the field for their pregame batting practice.
It was a long day, Ashley said, and she and Mason left a little early because he was tuckered out. She said it is unusual for her to have an entire day alone with one of her children, which made the time with her son extra special.
Ashley said Mason has been to Cardinals games before, but that last week's trip was the first time he really identified with the sport and with the players.
"Mason played coach pitch this spring, so this was the first time he was like, 'I play baseball, these are baseball players,'" Ashley said, smiling. "Everyone kept asking him if he wants to be a baseball player when he grows up and he was like, 'I am a baseball player.' He didn't understand this is what they do for a job and you have to be really talented to do it."