Kid sports and RTO

[Anonymous]

How is everyone dealing?
I used to work from 7:30-4, log off, and be able to take my kid to practice. Now I have a 90 minute PM commute so that’s off the table. My older kid drives but doesn’t have his own car yet. Younger kid a couple of years from driving. Do I definitely need to buy my older kid a car so he can drive them? Fall sport practice starts in early August.

I don’t know how parents of younger kids are dealing with this at all. Kids are going to suffer from lack of ability to participate. We have less flexibility than we did pre-2020 and in some cases (like mine) commuting to an office really far away where I never had to go before.

[Anonymous]

We are prioritizing activities and sports teams that happen at school itself. Also, skipping some weekday practices and just doing weekend games. We don’t do travel sports just rec, so it’s not that big a deal to miss practices.

[Anonymous]

I leave work early to take kid to practice.

[Anonymous]

I already told my kids that unless something changes we won't be able to do sports in the fall. It's just not possible with RTO. I know a few other parents forcing their kids to drop out too.

For another activity that I lead, I'm going to be pushing the time back from 5pm to now 6pm. 6-7pm isn't popular with many parents but it's the best I can do.

We're dual feds with zero flexibility in schedules and no telework. Our commutes aren't that long though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I leave work early to take kid to practice.

As a fed, we are denied from doing this. I was told I need to have a fixed schedule and it can't vary one day a week like that.

[Anonymous]

Leave earlier, hire help, carpool, get kid a car.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I leave work early to take kid to practice.

As a fed, we are denied from doing this. I was told I need to have a fixed schedule and it can't vary one day a week like that.

Go in early every day.

[Anonymous]

If your financial situation allows, I’d buy him a car, yes.

My oldest just started driving and it has made my life SO much easier. He drives both himself, and also his younger brother when needed. If there is overlap, we carpool for the younger one. Has reduced our driving burden by probably 80%. It is fabulous.

[Anonymous]

Yes definitely invest in a car.

I'm not in this rto situation, ive been working hybrid since 2021, but my son's after school activities all start late. 630 for one and 700 for another. Its entirely possible to work in person and have your kid play sports. You may need to check around for practice times. I've never signed him up for anything with a 5pm start time. Even 6pm is rare.

[Anonymous]

Get the older kid a used car, yes, and also work with other parents on the team to set up a carpool so that your family is only dealing with it 1/3 of the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are prioritizing activities and sports teams that happen at school itself. Also, skipping some weekday practices and just doing weekend games. We don’t do travel sports just rec, so it’s not that big a deal to miss practices.

Good luck getting on sports teams in high school. They are all cut and if you don’t do travel since toddler stage it’s unlikely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I leave work early to take kid to practice.

As a fed, we are denied from doing this. I was told I need to have a fixed schedule and it can't vary one day a week like that.

Go in early every day.

+1.

or hire a teenager you trust to drive them.

[Anonymous]

I work part time and always have to prioritize family life. So even though I'm in the office I can leave when I need to in order to get kids to practice. It was hardest with my kid on a (small private) school team because parents had to help carpool a lot.

It was much easier when DH was WFH.

[Anonymous]

One kid carpools, the other catches a ride with grandma (who we begged to help out). Can they ask friends for a ride? I’d get a car for the older one if you have the budget.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I leave work early to take kid to practice.

As a fed, we are denied from doing this. I was told I need to have a fixed schedule and it can't vary one day a week like that.

Go in early every day.

+1.

or hire a teenager you trust to drive them.

Sounds like OPs kids ARE teenagers! This shouldn't be that hard. Get one of them a car. Coordinate carpools with others. And find activities that start later in the evening.