Anonymous wrote:At 4 we missed half the weeknight practices anyway. We just showed up for game day. The ones we actually went to, we hit McDonalds after.

+1

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At 4 we missed half the weeknight practices anyway. We just showed up for game day. The ones we actually went to, we hit McDonalds after.

Then why bother? Just wait until the kid is a little older to sign up

Because he was four. The "practice" was like teaching cats to play T ball. I wanted the kid to get familiar with the terrain, the equipment, the rules of the game, the other kids etc. The practice usually ended early and the kids went to the playground. I'm not going to kill myself trying to make weeknight practice for a four year old - I'll show up when I can. But you do you.

Yes, but someone was volunteering their time to herd those little cats. The very, very least you can do is show up to practice. It actually does matter. If you will show up when you can, do everyone a favor and don’t bother until you can commit to the bare minimum. Showing up for the games when you didn’t come to practice sends a bad message to your kid and the team.

Get over yourself. So dual income families can never do team sports unless mom cuts her day short so as not to miss the 4 yo practice? How very feminist of you.

Touched a nerve, did I? I simply responded to your post. It’s between you and your mate on how your kid gets to practice. My point was that it’s crappy to skip practice and then expect your kid to play in games.

I don’t care who gets your kid to practice. If your family cannot make it work, especially for a 4 year old, skip it and play in the backyard.

Signed - a full time working mom of 2 kids on 2 separate teams.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At 4 we missed half the weeknight practices anyway. We just showed up for game day. The ones we actually went to, we hit McDonalds after.

Then why bother? Just wait until the kid is a little older to sign up

Because he was four. The "practice" was like teaching cats to play T ball. I wanted the kid to get familiar with the terrain, the equipment, the rules of the game, the other kids etc. The practice usually ended early and the kids went to the playground. I'm not going to kill myself trying to make weeknight practice for a four year old - I'll show up when I can. But you do you.

Yes, but someone was volunteering their time to herd those little cats. The very, very least you can do is show up to practice. It actually does matter. If you will show up when you can, do everyone a favor and don’t bother until you can commit to the bare minimum. Showing up for the games when you didn’t come to practice sends a bad message to your kid and the team.

Get over yourself. So dual income families can never do team sports unless mom cuts her day short so as not to miss the 4 yo practice? How very feminist of you.

No one said mom only. But the PP is right about a volunteer is leading practice and showing up just for games is a jerk move.

Your kid is 4! What time do you think a weeknight practice for FOUR year olds should be??? 7pm 8pm 9pm 10pm?

Just order pizza or something and have it delivered for right when you arrive home

McDonalds or Wendy’s

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At 4 we missed half the weeknight practices anyway. We just showed up for game day. The ones we actually went to, we hit McDonalds after.

Then why bother? Just wait until the kid is a little older to sign up

Because he was four. The "practice" was like teaching cats to play T ball. I wanted the kid to get familiar with the terrain, the equipment, the rules of the game, the other kids etc. The practice usually ended early and the kids went to the playground. I'm not going to kill myself trying to make weeknight practice for a four year old - I'll show up when I can. But you do you.

Yes, but someone was volunteering their time to herd those little cats. The very, very least you can do is show up to practice. It actually does matter. If you will show up when you can, do everyone a favor and don’t bother until you can commit to the bare minimum. Showing up for the games when you didn’t come to practice sends a bad message to your kid and the team.

Get over yourself. So dual income families can never do team sports unless mom cuts her day short so as not to miss the 4 yo practice? How very feminist of you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At 4 we missed half the weeknight practices anyway. We just showed up for game day. The ones we actually went to, we hit McDonalds after.

Then why bother? Just wait until the kid is a little older to sign up

Because he was four. The "practice" was like teaching cats to play T ball. I wanted the kid to get familiar with the terrain, the equipment, the rules of the game, the other kids etc. The practice usually ended early and the kids went to the playground. I'm not going to kill myself trying to make weeknight practice for a four year old - I'll show up when I can. But you do you.

Yes, but someone was volunteering their time to herd those little cats. The very, very least you can do is show up to practice. It actually does matter. If you will show up when you can, do everyone a favor and don’t bother until you can commit to the bare minimum. Showing up for the games when you didn’t come to practice sends a bad message to your kid and the team.

Sorry, didn’t answer OP’s question.

Do a light dinner (leftovers, sandwiches, crockpot) and then have something your kid can eat easily after practice - PB&J, yogurt/fruit/cheese, etc.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At 4 we missed half the weeknight practices anyway. We just showed up for game day. The ones we actually went to, we hit McDonalds after.

Then why bother? Just wait until the kid is a little older to sign up

Because he was four. The "practice" was like teaching cats to play T ball. I wanted the kid to get familiar with the terrain, the equipment, the rules of the game, the other kids etc. The practice usually ended early and the kids went to the playground. I'm not going to kill myself trying to make weeknight practice for a four year old - I'll show up when I can. But you do you.

Yes, but someone was volunteering their time to herd those little cats. The very, very least you can do is show up to practice. It actually does matter. If you will show up when you can, do everyone a favor and don’t bother until you can commit to the bare minimum. Showing up for the games when you didn’t come to practice sends a bad message to your kid and the team.

When I had 6pm games or practices my mother just leave a full plate wrapped in foil sitting on a pot on the stove that was on very low heat to keep it warm. This was before microwave ovens. If I was hungry before the game I’d eat a banana. And I rode my bike a couple of miles to the game.

Anonymous wrote:I can't believe this is already a thing but my 4 year old wanted to try t-ball and the practices are once a week at 6 pm.

I work FT and can't get dinner ready on the table at 5.

For those in similar situations, how do you handle food with something like this?

Once a week? Seriously? Get grilled nuggets and fruit at the Chick Fil A drive in. Eat sandwiches. Reheat leftovers. There are a million answers for this when it happens only once a week...

Anonymous wrote:I can't believe this is already a thing but my 4 year old wanted to try t-ball and the practices are once a week at 6 pm.

I work FT and can't get dinner ready on the table at 5.

For those in similar situations, how do you handle food with something like this?

Most parents are not preparing a full fresh dinner every weeknight. If your kid does any activities in Elementary, it's not possible. Make a nice dinner on Sunday, save some leftovers, crockpot, sandwich for dinner night, warm up frozen food. You just can't make a whole dinner every night with kids activities.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At 4 we missed half the weeknight practices anyway. We just showed up for game day. The ones we actually went to, we hit McDonalds after.

Then why bother? Just wait until the kid is a little older to sign up

Because he was four. The "practice" was like teaching cats to play T ball. I wanted the kid to get familiar with the terrain, the equipment, the rules of the game, the other kids etc. The practice usually ended early and the kids went to the playground. I'm not going to kill myself trying to make weeknight practice for a four year old - I'll show up when I can. But you do you.

And if you have multiple kids….

Oldest DS has practice right after HS. 8th grade DS has soccer starting at 6:30, so there’s a lot of shift eating during seasons.

Give a healthy snack before and one after in the car, don't do a fully dinner that night.

It doesn't get better as the kids get older. My 12 year old has travel soccer practices during dinner time four says per week.