Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son swims, I feel the same about swim meets. There is lots of waiting for a minute to 2 minute swim. Do they ever ask for volunteers? It does make the time go faster.

Swim meets are the worst.

You say that because your kid doesn't run cross country. You watch them start. Then they disappear. So you watch an empty finish line. Woo Hoo.

At least with swimming there are other people swimming to watch. That's mildly entertaining. With cross country they're gone.

It's like if your kid was a competitive scuba diver.

I'm actually praying my kid does X country because I was a swimmer- I know you can't watch the race but its over in what? like 20 minutes? Aren't they 3 miles about? My poor parents breathed those nasty fumes for about 6 hours pretty often!

It's over in 20 minutes, but it's the same as a swim meet in that you don't necessarily know when your kid is racing, so you're stuck there a lot longer.

Anonymous wrote:Wow, my parents came to almost every soccer and softball game from 5th grade to senior. Even stayed for varsity games when I was on JV and sat varsity (in case I got playing time). My parents were far from helicopter parents, but they enjoyed coming and made friends with some of the parents.

Anyway, I am 30 now and I definitely noticed the effort they put in to show up. I think kids care more than you think.

That is awesome, but they must have had incredibly flexible jobs!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son swims, I feel the same about swim meets. There is lots of waiting for a minute to 2 minute swim. Do they ever ask for volunteers? It does make the time go faster.

Swim meets are the worst.

You say that because your kid doesn't run cross country. You watch them start. Then they disappear. So you watch an empty finish line. Woo Hoo.

At least with swimming there are other people swimming to watch. That's mildly entertaining. With cross country they're gone.

It's like if your kid was a competitive scuba diver.

I'm actually praying my kid does X country because I was a swimmer- I know you can't watch the race but its over in what? like 20 minutes? Aren't they 3 miles about? My poor parents breathed those nasty fumes for about 6 hours pretty often!

Wow, my parents came to almost every soccer and softball game from 5th grade to senior. Even stayed for varsity games when I was on JV and sat varsity (in case I got playing time). My parents were far from helicopter parents, but they enjoyed coming and made friends with some of the parents.

Anyway, I am 30 now and I definitely noticed the effort they put in to show up. I think kids care more than you think.

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone like going to kid sporting events? I just wish I could read my kindle without people getting the impression I don't love my children.

Hahaha! My boys play basketball and lacrosse. It bores me to death

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son swims, I feel the same about swim meets. There is lots of waiting for a minute to 2 minute swim. Do they ever ask for volunteers? It does make the time go faster.

Swim meets are the worst.

You say that because your kid doesn't run cross country. You watch them start. Then they disappear. So you watch an empty finish line. Woo Hoo.

At least with swimming there are other people swimming to watch. That's mildly entertaining. With cross country they're gone.

It's like if your kid was a competitive scuba diver.

I am here to post the same as the former track coach - when I was a teen and played soccer and swam, I did not want my parents to attend every game/meet because I felt extra pressured, even though they did not put that pressure on me, and I could enjoy myself a lot more without them in the stands. In addition, usually games ans meets were after school - so plenty of parents didn't attend because they were at work. Op you really shouldnt feel the need to go to every meet.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son swims, I feel the same about swim meets. There is lots of waiting for a minute to 2 minute swim. Do they ever ask for volunteers? It does make the time go faster.

Swim meets are the worst.

You say that because your kid doesn't run cross country. You watch them start. Then they disappear. So you watch an empty finish line. Woo Hoo.

At least with swimming there are other people swimming to watch. That's mildly entertaining. With cross country they're gone.

It's like if your kid was a competitive scuba diver.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone like going to kid sporting events? I just wish I could read my kindle without people getting the impression I don't love my children.

Yes. I absolutely love watching my son play soccer. He and his team mates are joyful athletes and good sports. I've known some of them for a decade.

Soccer and basketball are totally different than track and swimming. This post is about track....completely different spectator experience and has nothing to do with how much you enjoy watching your kids participate.

Thank you very much, sweetie, for evaluating (with a fail) my reading comprehension. I asked a direct question, and I gave a concise and on-topic answer.

I thank you so much for telling me that swimming and soccer are different experiences. Personally, I like to get engaged in the things my son does when he wants me engaged. And I cheer on his friends at cross country. And help out with whatever. And I smile. Turns out that not everything I do is about fun for me.

Anonymous wrote:My son swims, I feel the same about swim meets. There is lots of waiting for a minute to 2 minute swim. Do they ever ask for volunteers? It does make the time go faster.

Swim meets are the worst.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just think of how bad it was for our parents. They didn't have smart phones or e-readers to pass the time. They actually had to watch or talk to other parents.

Nope. They weren't helicopter parents and were okay with missing many meets. They made the important meets which mattered.

Does she only prepare for the tests that matter? Cop out.

Soccer is the most boring sport to watch in my opinion

Interesting, I live in a small town that is all about sports and there are always parents at all the events. I remember zero parents being at any sports events when I was growing up (I am 43 now).

I recently went to a fantastic talk by Michael Thompson, PHD: http://michaelthompson-phd.com and he talked about how parents hover so much these days and don;t allow the kids to do their own thing and tell them about it later. He specifically used sports as an example and talked about how gone are the days of the kids coming home from events and giving the parents the play by play at dinner because now parents are always there. I found it really interesting. He mentioned asking the kids if they really wanted their parents there at every single game.

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone like going to kid sporting events? I just wish I could read my kindle without people getting the impression I don't love my children.

I'm the one who said I never went to any of DD's track meets in the two years she did it. I enjoyed watching her volleyball games. And I liked taking her to ice skating. I'd bring a book and only watch her skate sometimes.

OP, I would give a lot to have a kid involved in any sport and I would be glad to go to meets/games and be part of that crowd.

It is a gift to have an athletic/involved child. Be grateful (and bring your newspaper!)