Aug 9th for Fall Sports is ridiculous

[Anonymous]

One of the criteria we had when we chose where to live was how close to the schools we would be since it qas important that our children be able to get to clubs, sports, get themselves home if need be, etc. Other people make sure they are near public transportation when they choose where they will live with their family.

It is bold as hell to make short sited decisions that punish your children and then go on to blame the district about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One of the criteria we had when we chose where to live was how close to the schools we would be since it qas important that our children be able to get to clubs, sports, get themselves home if need be, etc. Other people make sure they are near public transportation when they choose where they will live with their family.

It is bold as hell to make short sited decisions that punish your children and then go on to blame the district about it.

The fact that you are missing the very point of entitlement with this comment here is laughable

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We moved this summer but were aware of the HS tryouts and summer sessions back in late May. Child is going into 9th. While official tryouts begin next week, there has been a summer league, a "camp," and twice-weekly conditioning practices since school let out in June. My child has attended all that were feasible (maybe 5/6ths) and feels like he knows a bunch of the kids and is now familiar with what's expected and how it works before tryouts. While he's nervous about who may show up at tryouts and knock it out of the park (he's good but not an Allstar) he's done all we can. I'd say he has a 60/40 shot, but it would have been less if he hadn't participated in these things.

We managed to get him to practices across town (before we moved) sometimes 4x a week (much easier after we moved in), he was a CIT for 3 weeks, we took an international 2 week vacation, and he's had time to relax. It hasn't been easy. But the sports things were no more exhausting than the trip or the move. DH works hybrid and I am an academic, so yes, I have more flex in the summer (though I work quite a bit at home in the summer).

DH took the lead on this. But the info was well-organized and communicated early. It's a lot, but in no way do I feel like we can't take vacations or our kid has to miss out on summer opportunities like camps, classes, or vacations in the future. We just can't do those ALL summer (but we wouldn't anyway).

Your post oozes of privilege. How does a single working mom handle this schedule you described above?

Talk to the coach, friend or family or Uber. How do you get your kid places normally?

Uber has a policy to not pick up unaccompanied kids under 18 yo.

They've picked my kid up from high school many many times

This is scary. You let your kid in an Uber alone? I guess its a boy but still

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We moved this summer but were aware of the HS tryouts and summer sessions back in late May. Child is going into 9th. While official tryouts begin next week, there has been a summer league, a "camp," and twice-weekly conditioning practices since school let out in June. My child has attended all that were feasible (maybe 5/6ths) and feels like he knows a bunch of the kids and is now familiar with what's expected and how it works before tryouts. While he's nervous about who may show up at tryouts and knock it out of the park (he's good but not an Allstar) he's done all we can. I'd say he has a 60/40 shot, but it would have been less if he hadn't participated in these things.

We managed to get him to practices across town (before we moved) sometimes 4x a week (much easier after we moved in), he was a CIT for 3 weeks, we took an international 2 week vacation, and he's had time to relax. It hasn't been easy. But the sports things were no more exhausting than the trip or the move. DH works hybrid and I am an academic, so yes, I have more flex in the summer (though I work quite a bit at home in the summer).

DH took the lead on this. But the info was well-organized and communicated early. It's a lot, but in no way do I feel like we can't take vacations or our kid has to miss out on summer opportunities like camps, classes, or vacations in the future. We just can't do those ALL summer (but we wouldn't anyway).

Your post oozes of privilege. How does a single working mom handle this schedule you described above?

Talk to the coach, friend or family or Uber. How do you get your kid places normally?

I am a married working mom and I can't get my kid to practices that are in the middle of the day either. Are you telling a single working mom to pay for an Uber so their kid can go to practices all summer long from 12-2pm. That is insane

Then what is your suggestion?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We moved this summer but were aware of the HS tryouts and summer sessions back in late May. Child is going into 9th. While official tryouts begin next week, there has been a summer league, a "camp," and twice-weekly conditioning practices since school let out in June. My child has attended all that were feasible (maybe 5/6ths) and feels like he knows a bunch of the kids and is now familiar with what's expected and how it works before tryouts. While he's nervous about who may show up at tryouts and knock it out of the park (he's good but not an Allstar) he's done all we can. I'd say he has a 60/40 shot, but it would have been less if he hadn't participated in these things.

We managed to get him to practices across town (before we moved) sometimes 4x a week (much easier after we moved in), he was a CIT for 3 weeks, we took an international 2 week vacation, and he's had time to relax. It hasn't been easy. But the sports things were no more exhausting than the trip or the move. DH works hybrid and I am an academic, so yes, I have more flex in the summer (though I work quite a bit at home in the summer).

DH took the lead on this. But the info was well-organized and communicated early. It's a lot, but in no way do I feel like we can't take vacations or our kid has to miss out on summer opportunities like camps, classes, or vacations in the future. We just can't do those ALL summer (but we wouldn't anyway).

Your post oozes of privilege. How does a single working mom handle this schedule you described above?

Talk to the coach, friend or family or Uber. How do you get your kid places normally?

This post also oozes of privilege assuming there are friends and family available to drive and that one can afford Uber.

I think you all need to recognize it is really hard for many kids to get transportation and your child would have to really want this badly to make the effort. My child's friend walked a really long distance to the bus, switched to three different buses and walked another mile to the practice field. Also a single working mom.

People have acknowledged that it’s hard for some kids. Repeatedly. And they’ve offered suggestions. We get it. Your kid has to walk 8 miles uphill without shoes each way to practice and none of the alternatives offered is helpful. Not even the free bus ride after a mile walk to the bus stop.

And not having privilege isn’t the only thing that makes sports hard for some kids. Special needs kids might not even have the option of the bus because they might not be capable of doing the mile walk.

Some people will always have it better than you or your kids. And some kids will have actual real insurmountable obstacles and your kid’s road will look like a walk in the park.

Actually all the school would have to do is run the practices in the AM or PM so kids can at least get one ride. The coaches could also send out links for carpools to new and returning students. There is a way that coaches can make it easier and they don't try. But they complain when the best players are playing travel or club and not their high school sport. At least travel or club have evening practices and weekend events. Not 1pm on a Tuesday.

There is no set practice time. It’s up to the coaches. Some do have late afternoon practice so parents who work regular business hours can do pick up. But you do realize that not all parents work regular business hours or have a car, right? Also I’ve never see. Coaches have anything to do with carpools. This is HS and they rightly expect that kids can make these arrangements themselves.

[Anonymous]

Also, at large MCPS HSs, coaches are competing for field space with other sports (football, boys soccer, girls soccer, field hockey). Not all of the practices can be early morning or late afternoon. And maybe the coach has an evening job over the summer, or a daytime job over the summer. The coaches work it out amongst themselves, and it's expected that the kids are at the nearest HS to where they live (or if in a consortium school, they are aware of the distance amd choose that school anyway).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We moved this summer but were aware of the HS tryouts and summer sessions back in late May. Child is going into 9th. While official tryouts begin next week, there has been a summer league, a "camp," and twice-weekly conditioning practices since school let out in June. My child has attended all that were feasible (maybe 5/6ths) and feels like he knows a bunch of the kids and is now familiar with what's expected and how it works before tryouts. While he's nervous about who may show up at tryouts and knock it out of the park (he's good but not an Allstar) he's done all we can. I'd say he has a 60/40 shot, but it would have been less if he hadn't participated in these things.

We managed to get him to practices across town (before we moved) sometimes 4x a week (much easier after we moved in), he was a CIT for 3 weeks, we took an international 2 week vacation, and he's had time to relax. It hasn't been easy. But the sports things were no more exhausting than the trip or the move. DH works hybrid and I am an academic, so yes, I have more flex in the summer (though I work quite a bit at home in the summer).

DH took the lead on this. But the info was well-organized and communicated early. It's a lot, but in no way do I feel like we can't take vacations or our kid has to miss out on summer opportunities like camps, classes, or vacations in the future. We just can't do those ALL summer (but we wouldn't anyway).

Your post oozes of privilege. How does a single working mom handle this schedule you described above?

Talk to the coach, friend or family or Uber. How do you get your kid places normally?

Uber has a policy to not pick up unaccompanied kids under 18 yo.

They've picked my kid up from high school many many times

This is scary. You let your kid in an Uber alone? I guess its a boy but still

I let my child walk to school. I also let them use the oven- and knives! I've left them home alone before the age of 18. They choose their own friends. I don't do their homework with them. If they get in trouble they have to get themselves out. And they take ubers.

[Anonymous]

They've picked my kid up from high school many many times


This is scary. You let your kid in an Uber alone? I guess its a boy but still

How old is your kid? I cannot imagine not allowing a 15 or 16 year old to take Uber, assuming the driver will accept them (my son is tall, so never been questioned). The system has a record of who picks your child up and where they are supposed to drop them off.

[Anonymous]

So how do these kids get to the practices that are mid day if they have a single working mom? We live over 4 miles away from our high school, the last 2 in heavy traffic, and the closest bus route is 1.5 miles away. Seems like HS sports are much more set up for the entitled kids.


Imagine feeling entitled to a bus route closer than a mile and a half! How do you think rural kids make it through life. What a hypocrite

TBH, I have some sympathy for the fact that my kid is not excited to walk a mile and a half each way to get to and from a cross country practice where he then runs 6-7 miles some days. I drive him on my WFH days, but on my in-office days, he just has to deal with it, though. There's not another option, they need the kids to be in shape for the season, and not everyone is going to be motivated do that on their own as a teenager.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

So how do these kids get to the practices that are mid day if they have a single working mom? We live over 4 miles away from our high school, the last 2 in heavy traffic, and the closest bus route is 1.5 miles away. Seems like HS sports are much more set up for the entitled kids.

I would like to know the areas in Montgomery County a person could live where they are

1. over 4 miles from their assigned high school
2. with the nearest 2 miles of that in heavy traffic (sincerely not sure what you mean by that; big roads?)
3. and the closest bus route is 1.5 miles away

If you lived near Carderock Springs ES, that would fit the criteria (~4.1 miles by car from Whitman; via River Road which is a big road; 1.4 miles to the bus stop at River Road and Seven Locks Road), but it wouldn't make sense in the context of the comment "Seems like HS sports are much more set up for the entitled kids."

If that's you, I would look into having my kid combine bike and bus. It's 10 minutes by bike to the River/Seven Locks bus stop, on neighborhood streets and the Seven Locks sidepath. Your kid can put their bike on the bus's front rack for bikes, ride the T2 to River/Pyle or the 36 to Bradley/Wilson, then take the bike back off the bus and ride the rest of the way to Whitman.

But in general, yes, if you live in a highly car-dependent area, then you're going to need to chauffeur your kids until they are old enough to drive themselves (assuming they have access to a car).

[Anonymous]

I’m not a PP, but our home is like that. Our zoned school is Churchill and it is over 5 miles driving and mostly on decent sized roads. There is no close bus stop AT ALL.

If we were zoned for Wootton it would be a lot easier and closer.

This frustrated me as they offered in person summer school classes but we would have had to drive our child there in the morning (no problem) but also figure out how to pick him up at 12:30 each day. It didn’t feel fair.

My DD starts practices today and it is a true pain. I wish we were zoned for our closest school!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We moved this summer but were aware of the HS tryouts and summer sessions back in late May. Child is going into 9th. While official tryouts begin next week, there has been a summer league, a "camp," and twice-weekly conditioning practices since school let out in June. My child has attended all that were feasible (maybe 5/6ths) and feels like he knows a bunch of the kids and is now familiar with what's expected and how it works before tryouts. While he's nervous about who may show up at tryouts and knock it out of the park (he's good but not an Allstar) he's done all we can. I'd say he has a 60/40 shot, but it would have been less if he hadn't participated in these things.

We managed to get him to practices across town (before we moved) sometimes 4x a week (much easier after we moved in), he was a CIT for 3 weeks, we took an international 2 week vacation, and he's had time to relax. It hasn't been easy. But the sports things were no more exhausting than the trip or the move. DH works hybrid and I am an academic, so yes, I have more flex in the summer (though I work quite a bit at home in the summer).

DH took the lead on this. But the info was well-organized and communicated early. It's a lot, but in no way do I feel like we can't take vacations or our kid has to miss out on summer opportunities like camps, classes, or vacations in the future. We just can't do those ALL summer (but we wouldn't anyway).

Your post oozes of privilege. How does a single working mom handle this schedule you described above?

Talk to the coach, friend or family or Uber. How do you get your kid places normally?

Uber has a policy to not pick up unaccompanied kids under 18 yo.

They've picked my kid up from high school many many times

Oops.

[Anonymous]

https://www.uber.com/en-GB/blog/safety-hub-transporting-minors/

"Our guidelines were developed to help make every experience feel safe, respectful, and positive. That’s why our Community Guidelines specify that riders must be 18 years or older to have an Uber account, and must be at least 18 years old to ride unaccompanied in a vehicle. Account holders should not request a ride for someone under the age of 18 who will not be accompanied by either the account holder or another adult during the ride. An under 18 taking a trip alone is a safety concern"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m not a PP, but our home is like that. Our zoned school is Churchill and it is over 5 miles driving and mostly on decent sized roads. There is no close bus stop AT ALL.

If we were zoned for Wootton it would be a lot easier and closer.

This frustrated me as they offered in person summer school classes but we would have had to drive our child there in the morning (no problem) but also figure out how to pick him up at 12:30 each day. It didn’t feel fair.

My DD starts practices today and it is a true pain. I wish we were zoned for our closest school!

That's a consequence of living in low-density no-sidewalks Potomac. It was designed so that you have to drive everywhere. I'm not blaming you; this was probably not even a consideration when you made the decision to live there. However, it is the reality. It's difficult for people who live in Potomac to go most places unless they can drive and have access to a car.

[Anonymous]

https://www.uber.com/en-GB/blog/safety-hub-transporting-minors/

"Our guidelines were developed to help make every experience feel safe, respectful, and positive. That’s why our Community Guidelines specify that riders must be 18 years or older to have an Uber account, and must be at least 18 years old to ride unaccompanied in a vehicle. Account holders should not request a ride for someone under the age of 18 who will not be accompanied by either the account holder or another adult during the ride. An under 18 taking a trip alone is a safety concern"

My question, though, is why.

Also, they are changing the policy in some areas such that minors 13 and older can ride on a parent's account. What makes it safer for teens to ride Uber in NYC and NYC suburbs or Atlanta than here?