Parking-lot parents
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Anonymous
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OP what do you think they should be doing?
I used to get out and walk or sit at my 7 or 9 year old's soccer practices. But once they're about 10, that's odd in my circles. I work, I relax, I run an errand, stuff like that. I work all day, so it's my opportunity to either walk (which I am not going to do from 8-9 in the dark at a random parking lot) or veg out. |
Anonymous
| It makes sense to wait in the car or run errands. The lobby zombies and chit chat gossips are the worst. |
Anonymous
That's sad you can't tell. |
Anonymous
The older kids would probably feel embarrassed if parents were watching them closely during practice and then people would have the opposite complaint of “ah, Aiden’s mom/dad is so overbearing at baseball/swimming/dance/whatwver … they always stay in the lobby or on the field and watch.” So yes this is yet another way in which parents can literally never win. Cool, good talk. |
Anonymous
| Why do you care? |
Anonymous
| parents are not required for kids practices. you know in the caveman days when i was a kid, i rode my bike there and home. no parents ... ever! |
Anonymous
| The coaches would prefer it if all parents stayed in the car or just dropped the kids off! |
Anonymous
| I am still confused by what OP considers an "event". I wouldn't consider a practice and event. I sit outside practices of various types all the time. But to me an event is something out of the ordinary, so a band concert, or a game, or graduation. I think sitting outside those is a little odd, although obviously things can come up and it's the best you can do. |
Anonymous
+1000. |
Anonymous
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Anonymous
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NP. I do this sometimes. Look, it's nothing personal, and I'd like to think I am more empathetic and caring than the average person, but I am also just intensely shy and introverted deep down. I am a senior government attorney, and it takes all I have to be "on" all day, to be in a more gregarious headspace. It's hard to do.
It also doesn't help that DW and I are older parents, so we definitely feel a generation gap between us and the early 30 somethings (we are late 40s). I have found that I have more in common with my older gen x and boomer colleagues, and thus easier to be sociable. |
Anonymous
This is the answer. |
Anonymous
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I only care what my child thinks. Would it matter to them if I watch? Will they even see me watching? I think it’s rude to be on my phone not paying attention and they can see it. I also think it’s rude where parents talk the entire time.
I leave during practices and watch games. |
Anonymous
?? Lobby zombies ? |
Anonymous
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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 |