Missing out on childhood for tournaments, etc

[Anonymous]

Putting this in sports forum because I think it belongs here.

My kids are as competitive as they come, doing travel sports, and generally very involved in their sports. So I get it. But I am finding more and more that parents have their kids skip out on birthday parties for local tournaments. Or missing the slumber party portion because they want their kids to be ready to compete the next day. They respond immediately to an invitation before the kids are even home from school, so the parents are making the choices.

To what end? These are simply local tournaments, and there will be another one next weekend. How sad that these competitions trump absolutely everything.

[Anonymous]

Yes, had several close friends decline dc's birthday party due to rec sports games. We ended up moving the party so they could make it but I was a little surprised at the prioritization.

[Anonymous]

We live in pretty small area and a friend recently had a birthday party. I felt so badly declining, but it was the regional championships for swimming and 5 of the 10 kids invited were competing.

[Anonymous]

Do you have a kid in travel sports? We signed a contract saying the kid will be there. There aren’t a lot of extra players so if two kids skip, the whole team would potentially forfeit. We knew this going in and so did our kids. I would it let my kid skip a tournament unless it was for a very best friend. Even then, I’d really have to plan it out. My kids love their sports.

[Anonymous]

That's the choice some kids and families have made, including mine. What's the big deal?

And to what end? Well, for DD, she has been working and playing with her team for 4 years now, improving, growing and having fun. Tournaments can often be the best part of the experience as you get to stay in hotels with your teammates and/or put your skills to the test. It's sort of like asking a cello player, what is the point of a concert?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, had several close friends decline dc's birthday party due to rec sports games. We ended up moving the party so they could make it but I was a little surprised at the prioritization.

A party can be moved, a game cannot. You should when asked about games before planning if those kids’ attendance was so important it you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Putting this in sports forum because I think it belongs here.

My kids are as competitive as they come, doing travel sports, and generally very involved in their sports. So I get it. But I am finding more and more that parents have their kids skip out on birthday parties for local tournaments. Or missing the slumber party portion because they want their kids to be ready to compete the next day. They respond immediately to an invitation before the kids are even home from school, so the parents are making the choices.

To what end? These are simply local tournaments, and there will be another one next weekend. How sad that these competitions trump absolutely everything.

I am VERY happy to find any excuse to avoid having to deal with an exhausted child after a sleepover. Sports provide a great excuse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, had several close friends decline dc's birthday party due to rec sports games. We ended up moving the party so they could make it but I was a little surprised at the prioritization.

A party can be moved, a game cannot. You should when asked about games before planning if those kids’ attendance was so important it you.

Not to mention that a birthday party is a dime a dozen.

[Anonymous]

Since your kids are in travel, I don’t get how you don’t get this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, had several close friends decline dc's birthday party due to rec sports games. We ended up moving the party so they could make it but I was a little surprised at the prioritization.

A party can be moved, a game cannot. You should when asked about games before planning if those kids’ attendance was so important it you.

Not to mention that a birthday party is a dime a dozen.

This. My kids aren’t too sad to miss another laser tag party.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Putting this in sports forum because I think it belongs here.

My kids are as competitive as they come, doing travel sports, and generally very involved in their sports. So I get it. But I am finding more and more that parents have their kids skip out on birthday parties for local tournaments. Or missing the slumber party portion because they want their kids to be ready to compete the next day. They respond immediately to an invitation before the kids are even home from school, so the parents are making the choices.

To what end? These are simply local tournaments, and there will be another one next weekend. How sad that these competitions trump absolutely everything.

You mean, how sad that something else trump's your kid's birthday party? Give me a break.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, had several close friends decline dc's birthday party due to rec sports games. We ended up moving the party so they could make it but I was a little surprised at the prioritization.

A party can be moved, a game cannot. You should when asked about games before planning if those kids’ attendance was so important it you.

Not to mention that a birthday party is a dime a dozen.

A rec league game?

[Anonymous]

Its about what the parents care about, not what the kids care about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Putting this in sports forum because I think it belongs here.

My kids are as competitive as they come, doing travel sports, and generally very involved in their sports. So I get it. But I am finding more and more that parents have their kids skip out on birthday parties for local tournaments. Or missing the slumber party portion because they want their kids to be ready to compete the next day. They respond immediately to an invitation before the kids are even home from school, so the parents are making the choices.

To what end? These are simply local tournaments, and there will be another one next weekend. How sad that these competitions trump absolutely everything.

So I gather you pull your kids out of tournaments all the time? Either you do, and your team probably resents you for it, or you don't and thus you actually already get this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, had several close friends decline dc's birthday party due to rec sports games. We ended up moving the party so they could make it but I was a little surprised at the prioritization.

A party can be moved, a game cannot. You should when asked about games before planning if those kids’ attendance was so important it you.

Not to mention that a birthday party is a dime a dozen.

A rec league game?

OP is talking about a tournament.