Parking-lot parents

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because I am not American and it is significant effort for me to socialize with Americans. Is my accent ok? Am I saying all the right things? Etc etc
Easier to just be by myself unless there is no way out of it

That’s interesting because most new immigrants like to practice their English. A lot of Eastern Europeans and Russians in my area. One woman from Russia had a husband unexpectedly transferred to US. She had no English but practiced constantly. It was work listening to her struggle with English but worth it.

Don’t worry about saying the right things. People understand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:I attend actual events, as in concerts and competitions. I never attend practices. I don't think I ever attended a whole soccer game. I find them excruciatingly boring so I don't.

That’s sad.

I sit in my car for plenty of practices and don’t make every event, but just not showing up ever for one kid because you find it boring is sad.

I promise you that my kid doesn't know I'm missing when his head's underwater.

Your soccer player’s head is underwater?

Oh, I'm sorry, didn't realize this thread was specifically about soccer (because it's not).

I responded to a poster who specifically said they had attended all the competitions, but never attended an entire soccer game, implying that they had multiple kids and just ignored one.

If you have never once seen your kid swim an entire race, then that's relevant. If you sometimes miss some races, that's totally reasonable. Just like it would be reasonable to say "I attend some but not all of my kids' soccer games".

There is one parent at each of her meets. Neither of us watch practice. Who cares? DS doesn't.

How is that related to what I responded to which is a parent saying they had never once watched a kid's game? If you had never once watched a race it would be relevant, but that doesn't apply to you.

I sit in the parking lot during each and every practice. This thread DOES apply to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because I am not American and it is significant effort for me to socialize with Americans. Is my accent ok? Am I saying all the right things? Etc etc
Easier to just be by myself unless there is no way out of it

That’s interesting because most new immigrants like to practice their English. A lot of Eastern Europeans and Russians in my area. One woman from Russia had a husband unexpectedly transferred to US. She had no English but practiced constantly. It was work listening to her struggle with English but worth it.

Don’t worry about saying the right things. People understand.

Wow, did you really just immigrant-splain to her why it’s not okay for her to take a break from the stress of being in a foreign country? SMH.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I attend actual events, as in concerts and competitions. I never attend practices. I don't think I ever attended a whole soccer game. I find them excruciatingly boring so I don't.

That’s sad.

I sit in my car for plenty of practices and don’t make every event, but just not showing up ever for one kid because you find it boring is sad.

I promise you that my kid doesn't know I'm missing when his head's underwater.

There is a huge difference between a 6 year old and 14 year old. Older kids don’t want their parents there and it’s not a big deal. I’d never leave a little one but with a teen they don’t need or want me watching.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Meh. I don’t believe that coaches just want you to drop off. My kindergartener’s soccer coach specifically asked me and a couple moms to help manage the kids when they weren’t actually playing.

I don’t think anyone’s talking about 5 year olds wandering the field with a soccer ball. I would be concerned one would wander off too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because I am not American and it is significant effort for me to socialize with Americans. Is my accent ok? Am I saying all the right things? Etc etc
Easier to just be by myself unless there is no way out of it

That’s interesting because most new immigrants like to practice their English. A lot of Eastern Europeans and Russians in my area. One woman from Russia had a husband unexpectedly transferred to US. She had no English but practiced constantly. It was work listening to her struggle with English but worth it.

Don’t worry about saying the right things. People understand.

Wow, did you really just immigrant-splain to her why it’s not okay for her to take a break from the stress of being in a foreign country? SMH.

Immigrantsplain is not a word. She didn’t say she was taking a break, she said it’s easier to just stay away. She worried about her accent. She shouldn’t.

Are you in the suburbs? No family members new to this country? If so I get that you wouldn’t understand. I have family members who are illegal 20 years in. There are still a handful who can’t speak English. That’s because they stay in a small world of other Spanish speaking people, work under the table with Spanish speaking workers, Spanish TV, neighborhood almost all Latinos. It’s easier for them to not even try but it’s not a good idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because I am not American and it is significant effort for me to socialize with Americans. Is my accent ok? Am I saying all the right things? Etc etc
Easier to just be by myself unless there is no way out of it

That’s interesting because most new immigrants like to practice their English. A lot of Eastern Europeans and Russians in my area. One woman from Russia had a husband unexpectedly transferred to US. She had no English but practiced constantly. It was work listening to her struggle with English but worth it.

Don’t worry about saying the right things. People understand.

Wow, did you really just immigrant-splain to her why it’s not okay for her to take a break from the stress of being in a foreign country? SMH.

Immigrantsplain is not a word. She didn’t say she was taking a break, she said it’s easier to just stay away. She worried about her accent. She shouldn’t.

Are you in the suburbs? No family members new to this country? If so I get that you wouldn’t understand. I have family members who are illegal 20 years in. There are still a handful who can’t speak English. That’s because they stay in a small world of other Spanish speaking people, work under the table with Spanish speaking workers, Spanish TV, neighborhood almost all Latinos. It’s easier for them to not even try but it’s not a good idea.

In your opinion it isn't a good idea but it seems to work for them, right? Why can't you just let them do their thing? If someone doesn't want to have a conversation with you in English just leave them alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because I am not American and it is significant effort for me to socialize with Americans. Is my accent ok? Am I saying all the right things? Etc etc
Easier to just be by myself unless there is no way out of it

That’s interesting because most new immigrants like to practice their English. A lot of Eastern Europeans and Russians in my area. One woman from Russia had a husband unexpectedly transferred to US. She had no English but practiced constantly. It was work listening to her struggle with English but worth it.

Don’t worry about saying the right things. People understand.

But what if she wants to live here and not learn the language?

[Anonymous]

The worst of all are track meets. So boring and long !

[Anonymous]

Butt egg

[Anonymous]

I’m antisocial and don’t want to make small-talk with you. Is that so hard to understand? I attend games and performances but definitely no practices. Not everyone is looking to make new friends. I already have more friends than I have time to see.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Coaches told us not to watch practice and that it’s better for the kids to not get distracted by us. Too far to drive home and back, so I’m in the car listening to an audio book.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Coaches told us not to watch practice and that it’s better for the kids to not get distracted by us. Too far to drive home and back, so I’m in the car listening to an audio book.

That's a red flag in a coach.

I'm not saying that I sit and watch every practice. But every parent should be welcome to see what's being said, how practices are conducted, etc.

Parents should stay back. Parents should not interfere. Parents should not interrupt or coach from the sideline. But every coach should be willing (at the youth level, at least) to have parents occasionally observe practice