are kids sports games fun for parents and grandparents?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love watching my kids play soccer.
I loathe watching my kid play baseball.

I’m in it for socializing with the other families, and being outside instead of cooped up.

+1.

Soccer games are exciting, baseball especially at my kid's age is so excruciatingly boring, especially when the are doing the no strike out thing. They pitch until each kid hits the ball, which sometimes take upwards of 30 tries, while the kids in the field sit down, play catch with themselves with their mitts or just get upset and bored and cry or run off the field. I was a softball player so still love the game, never played soccer as a kid. I hope games will get better as my son gets older

I'm not OP, but I'm another 40s DINK, and I'm GOBSMACKED that this is a thing. Ugh.

In most leagues it is not a thing. They get maybe 5 pitches from the coach and then depending on level either the tee comes out or they strike out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love watching my kids play soccer.
I loathe watching my kid play baseball.

I’m in it for socializing with the other families, and being outside instead of cooped up.

+1.

Soccer games are exciting, baseball especially at my kid's age is so excruciatingly boring, especially when the are doing the no strike out thing. They pitch until each kid hits the ball, which sometimes take upwards of 30 tries, while the kids in the field sit down, play catch with themselves with their mitts or just get upset and bored and cry or run off the field. I was a softball player so still love the game, never played soccer as a kid. I hope games will get better as my son gets older

This is exactly why I don’t let my kids play baseball or softball. Boring for the kid and parent alike.

I absolutely love watching my kids play club soccer.

[Anonymous]

I don't really enjoy watching my kids play.

Both are teenagers and each are in travel sports. My ILs go to their games, at least the ones that are close to their house. This is partly why I don't enjoy going to games. Forced interaction. They talk non stop.

Most of the parents are completely anti social, especially as your athlete moves up competitively. The more competitive, the least friendly. I give up and don't even try anymore and I'm a naturally friendly and outgoing person.

My kids have played soccer, basketball and field hockey. Field hockey had the most aloof parents. Spent an entire season staring straight ahead while everyone else screamed at their players.

[Anonymous]

The description of youth baseball is not typical IME...in our league, it goes like this:

(1) 5-7 year olds, coach pitch, 6 pitches- if you don’t hit any, it is a strikeout. Fun and no one takes it seriously at all.
(2) 7-9 year olds, AA kid pitch with traditional rules (3 strikes you’re out). Most boring level because there are so many walks
(3) 9-10 year olds, AAA kid pitch with traditional rules. Way fewer walks, kids can actually field- I enjoy watching.

The super boring baseball years don’t last long IME...pretty much 1-2 years of excruciating boredom then it is more interesting.

[Anonymous]

No kids here either but I played a D1 sport and still play it in rec leagues today. My parents did not go to all of my games and I actually appreciated it. I felt more pressure to perform when they were there even though they were pretty supportive (not always rah rah but never mean about a bad day either). I see my friends who insist on going to every single game and I’m like, maybe your kid wants a break from this.

As far as the actual excitement factor I actually HATE watching games. If I play a tournament and I have to watch other teams play in between, even teams with many of my friends on them, it’s so boring to me. I don’t know how the parents do it all day every weekend.

[Anonymous]

I have four kids and they all play travel soccer. I love seeing them play. I go to most games if I can, but have to miss a lot. A normal weekend with four games is totally fine bit tournament weekends are a bit much, usually because I try to see more than is comfortable and it becomes stressful.

My kids also play rec baseball. I hated watching them play baseball (even though it is my favorite sport) until they were about 10 or so because the level of play was unbearable. Also games are too long.

I enjoy watching flag football, track, tennis, martial arts--each of my kids does/has done at least one of these. But soccer is the most entertaining and is appealingly short!

[Anonymous]

I am the PP. I hadn't read the replies but see that a number of people agree with me!

[Anonymous]

Sometimes. Depends.

[Anonymous]

Fun for parents for sure, based on my own experience. I enjoy the adventure of it all, down to scheduling grocery runs or haircuts between games or birthday party drop-offs. And car pooling is fun - listening to kid conversation is refreshing. I like taking the dog to outdoor events. I like spending time with my kids and husband. It works for us. However, I don’t think my kids do as many sports as OP describes.

[Anonymous]

13:53 nailed it

[Anonymous]

I think you don’t get it because you don’t have kids and don’t want to have kids. M

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you don’t get it because you don’t have kids and don’t want to have kids. M

Ding ding ding

My DINK brother and SIL would hate it .as would our DINK friends.

We have 2 kids involved in a variety of things. One parent is always there, grandparents come several times but definitely not every game, though some weekends they do come to all of the games. Totally up to them.

[Anonymous]

Not without wine, no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Asking out of genuine curiosity: My husband and I are mid-40s DINKS so obv not going to weekend games all that often. We were talking with my husband's parents today - and they said they were basically spending the entire weekend at my husband's brother's kids' games. Three kids with two or more games each - that's the whole weekend. That's what they do most weekends - watch their grandkids play sports. The parents are at all the games, too - if two games conflict, one parent will go to one, the other to the other.

If you have three or more kids: Do you go to all your kids' (or grandkids') games like that - six-plus games over the course of a weekend? Is that fun? Would you ever tell a kid, "Hey, we love you - we'll go to one game this weekend - pick which one you want us at."

It seems like a really overwhelming schedule to me!

My kids are in elementary school, so if one or both parents didn't go to their games I'm not sure how they'd get there. I enjoy seeing them do things they like, so yes, it's fun. I wouldn't be showing up to a swim meet or a little league game if it weren't my kid or one I knew, but it's so great to see the pride in their eyes when they accomplish something they've been working on. We have lots of local family and they've all come to a game or two for our kids, but nobody but parents comes every time.

Think of it this way, OP: I bet you've been to lots of things over the years that were important to your husband but maybe weren't your favorite activity, and he's done the same for you. We show up to things that are important to the people we love because we want to show them we care - it's the same with kid sports.

This is OP - and of COURSE you do things for the ones you love. I am asking if you do it all weekend every weekend - and if it's fun. Not if you do it. Not if you love your kids.

It sounds like it is fun for you because your kids like it so much.

I think in general, if you sign your kids up for a sport, you show up. Obviously there might be some sick days or random days you are out of town but it’s a lot of money to waste if you only show up for half of the events. I also have my kids play soccer so they can learn how to be a part of a team and teammates show up for each other.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some people like different things in life.

Yes, I know - that's why I am asking the question. To find out if parents go to all these games and enjoy it, or go out of obligation or because it's what you do, or what.

Thankfully, you do not have children.