are kids sports games fun for parents and grandparents?

[Anonymous]

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!

[Anonymous]

Some people like different things in life.

[Anonymous]

Not this parent. I find them excruciatingly boring. Luckily my kid isn't sporty, so I don't think this will be a big issue in my parenting.

I think that there may be some families that are super sporty and genuinely enjoy it, though.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

I do like watching my kids play sports.

That said I do have to miss games here and there. My parents go to maybe one game per kid per season. (They live locally).

[Anonymous]

I love going to watch my kids play soccer. I’m good friends with the other parents on the team and it’s generally a good time.

I do limit my kids to one activity or sport a season though.

[Anonymous]

If you like watching sports, it's fun.
If you like watching your grandkids, it's fun.

I don't like sports and was unable to have kids, so it's not fun for me.

[Anonymous]

Watching little kids learning to play a sport is a total crack-up. Very cute and entertaining and the kids are soooo excited afterwards. Lots of fun.

Watching upper elementary to middle school kids playing can be very meh. They aren't terribly good for the most part and things can be tedious.

Watching high school students on a varsity team play - good, interesting games. Lot's of excitement and cheering. Yay team!

The sport and the venue matter a lot. Soccer on a beautiful spring or fall day - it is just nice to be outside relaxing and enjoying company. On a rainy day or a too hot and humid day? Ugh. Swim meet in the summer at the pool? Enjoy the weather and chatting with neighbors, timing for the meet, and seeing your kid hang out with friends. Spending 6 hours at an indoor swim center on crappy bleachers so you can see your kid swim for 2 minutes? Double ugh. Part of the enjoyment that comes with watching your kids' games is hanging out with the community of parents who are also involved and making seasonal friends. People stick with kids sports as long as they are enjoying it as a family. When it stops being fun, most sensible people stop.

[Anonymous]

I think it's normal when you have kids to enjoy being a part of their life. That includes going to sporting events, scouting meets, plays, performances, school nights, neighborhood friend parties, and kid focused movies and events. Grandparents also enjoy being a part of their grandchild's life.

Also, like a lot of sporting events, it's social. Parents spend quite a bit of time chatting with each other during the game. Presumably your in-laws also talk to one another.

Maybe you can remember being a kid and doing things as a family? I'm not really sure why you would need to crowd source this perspective even if you don't have kids yourself.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

I love my kids games but they each have one per weekend and one during the week. I even sometimes enjoy watching their practices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it's normal when you have kids to enjoy being a part of their life. That includes going to sporting events, scouting meets, plays, performances, school nights, neighborhood friend parties, and kid focused movies and events. Grandparents also enjoy being a part of their grandchild's life.

Also, like a lot of sporting events, it's social. Parents spend quite a bit of time chatting with each other during the game. Presumably your in-laws also talk to one another.

Maybe you can remember being a kid and doing things as a family? I'm not really sure why you would need to crowd source this perspective even if you don't have kids yourself.

This is OP - my parents were very involved with my life as a kid. But I wasn't an athlete and didn't have, like, musical recitals all weekend every weekend. I don't know that they'd have come to that many events - they had lives outside of what I was doing.

I'm crowdsourcing because I am interested in lives outside of my own. Does that make sense to you? I hope so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love going to watch my kids play soccer. I’m good friends with the other parents on the team and it’s generally a good time.

I do limit my kids to one activity or sport a season though.

You’re good friends with the other parents - for now. It’s fleeting, you’ll see.

[Anonymous]

I love, love, love, love, it.

I go to my kids games and my friends kid's games.

I go to my kids old HS game even though they are in college.

The parents that are crazy ... Not at all... But every thing else i.love.

If I don't have grandchildren I will go with my friends to see their grandchildren.

I don't think I'm normal though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love, love, love, love, it.

I go to my kids games and my friends kid's games.

I go to my kids old HS game even though they are in college.

The parents that are crazy ... Not at all... But every thing else i.love.

If I don't have grandchildren I will go with my friends to see their grandchildren.

I don't think I'm normal though.

You’re not. And none of the other parents who see you at these games thinks you’re normal either