Making kids go to sibling sports events

[Anonymous]

When a kid is old enough to stay home alone, do you ever still make them go to a sibling's sport events even if they don't want to?

Is it different if it's a swim team and one kid is in an A meet and another in the B meet? My B meet kid doesn't want to go to the A meet, even though they will have tons of friends there. That kid is 13 and can stay home alone, but will likely be on screens the entire time we are gone. I would rather have them with us and in the fresh air and socializing. Plus it's their team! They refuse to join in team cheers unless they're swimming that day. They're otherwise not pouty about swim team, I get that they're sad they are not in the A meets, but I think there is value in coming to cheer on siblings and friends.

Curious what your family "policy" is about swim or other sports in general.

[Anonymous]

Are the friends swimming in the a meet or are they there to support others? I probably wouldn’t make a b meet swimmer sibling to to an a meet. It’s kind of embarrassing.

[Anonymous]

DC are all old enough to stay home. We make them go to at least one event for their siblings per season, regardless of what level or what type of activity. it is simply just to be there for their sibling and show support.

[Anonymous]

Take them to the swim meet.

Generally, I dont force my olders to go, unless its a big championship game/tournament/meet.

[Anonymous]

If my son were going to be alone on screens the whole time, I would make him go to the meet. However, he generally reads or hangs out with other neighborhood kids. I am fine with him not going under those circumstances.

[Anonymous]

Swim meets are early. Can’t he just sleep the whole time?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Swim meets are early. Can’t he just sleep the whole time?

Op here--I tried to do gender neutral but you assumed it's a boy...and you're right! He doesn't sleep in, he's up already.

If it were a home meet I would have him walk over for an hour or so and then walk back, but it's away.

He's dressed and ready now and not complaining, so this time he will come, but I always wonder how to handle it.

[Anonymous]

JFC. I can’t imagine the torture of having to swim in your own B team meets and then go to a sibling’s A team meets and cheer your sibling on. Give your kid some peace.

Summer swim team is the worst.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:JFC. I can’t imagine the torture of having to swim in your own B team meets and then go to a sibling’s A team meets and cheer your sibling on. Give your kid some peace.

Summer swim team is the worst.

What if other years the current B sibling is the A meet swimmer and vice versa, since the age groups often determine their standing. When they're a B meet swimmer they should just sulk and hide, but when they're an A meet swimmer they can come and celebrate? Fwiw my A meet swimmer is also swimming B meets, and my B meet swimmer may make it to an A meet in a stroke this year--it's fluid, so it's not such an easy thing.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t make him.
I would say he had to do XYZ before going on screens though.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't force. In this case he probably feels badly he didn't make the A meet - sitting on the sidelines just sucks.

And in general, I don't think you should force your kids to watch the other. In our house, it would required for a championship game or something, but not regular meets that the kid didn't qualify for.

[Anonymous]

I would have him go to one A meet - maybe the last one of the season or if sibling makes any post-regular season meets like divs - to support the sibling. Builds that relationship. But otherwise, he can choose.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:JFC. I can’t imagine the torture of having to swim in your own B team meets and then go to a sibling’s A team meets and cheer your sibling on. Give your kid some peace.

Summer swim team is the worst.

Honestly, even though my kid loves summer swim, this is kind of how I feel. I can’t imagine making my kid do their 5 hour long B meet, not make the A meet in any stroke, but make them also get up on Saturday morning and go to the A meet just to cheer on others. Maybe for a sibling I’d have them go once to Divisionals or something, but I wouldn’t force it other than that.

[Anonymous]

Swimming, no.

Other sports it depends on their schedule, if they are sitting home all day and the game is close to home yes.

[Anonymous]

I would have him come to some, but not all meets. A meets are early, it is nice to be able to just relax Saturday mornings.