Anonymous wrote:OP you suck. don't join a team if you don't want to be social. sport IS social and you chose to have your kid participate so act accordingly too. And who cares about chatty parents, why not lend an ear. I hate people who act as if they'd rather live in a deserted island, such hypocrites.

Not the OP but I do. I'm more than happy to lend an ear and chat outside of a game. But the OP clearly said she has to miss some games due to work and values the time watching the game. You want to talk? Fine, let's set up some time to do it. But right now, let's watch and talk about the game.

Runners on 1st and 3rd, 1 out, my kid's up- what runners are on base? Will the coach call a hit-and run? My son struggles at poking it to the opposite field... Will they steal 2nd and then steal home if the catcher throws to 2nd base? How good is the pitcher's curve ball? Where is the left fielder set (my kid's a pull power hitter)? Holy shit- did you see that hanging curve? My son should have crushed that- dammit!

See how it works? I don't give two shits about your day during a baseball game so kindly leave me alone.

Just figure out who the others are who are interested in watching the games, and always sit by them. How is this difficult to figure out?

I don't think it's a crime for an adult to find kids' games tormentingly tedious. If you actually enjoy them, that's a true bonus for you. Most of the parents there are bored out of their skulls, so they chat. That chat is usually pretty dull, too, but hey, it's part of being a parent at kid events.

OP you suck. don't join a team if you don't want to be social. sport IS social and you chose to have your kid participate so act accordingly too. And who cares about chatty parents, why not lend an ear. I hate people who act as if they'd rather live in a deserted island, such hypocrites.

Anonymous wrote:OP, it's not just your DC who's on the team, it's you too. This means you have to engage with other parents. If you start avoiding them or pretend you are so busy that you have to be on the phone, you will seem as standoffish and uptight. Don't do this to your kid. Parents talk in front of their children about other parents' behavior. It's a sports game, not a ballet performance.

OP is on the team too? Oh boy.

Anonymous wrote:

Yeah, I would watch the game and "chat" with them, but periodically answer the wrong question.

Where are you summering?
--yeah, I know. The teen years are hard, aren't they? And we have to decide whether to enroll John Jr in driving school this summer.
What? Didn't you hear me? I asked where are you summering?
--Oh, sorry. I was watching Jane's play at second base. Just a second. "Good catch, Jane!"

After a while, either they'll go into a monologue that you can tune out and just murmur "I know" "Really?" etc or they'll get annoyed by you and go and annoy someone else.

Are there really people who ask this question, or were you being funny? I'm asking sincerely.

Types of Moms at sporting events (80% in DC Metro)

#4 The Chatty Kathy

She looks at the game as her social hour, gossiping about the latest goings-on at school, in the neighborhood, and just about everywhere else. The hallmark of this mom is when her child comes over and says, "Did you see that hit?" and she automatically replies, "It was your best one yet!" though she didn't even know he was up at bat because she was so busy talking!

Anonymous wrote:OP, it's not just your DC who's on the team, it's you too. This means you have to engage with other parents. If you start avoiding them or pretend you are so busy that you have to be on the phone, you will seem as standoffish and uptight. Don't do this to your kid. Parents talk in front of their children about other parents' behavior. It's a sports game, not a ballet performance.

Are you serious? You must be joking. I must engage with other parents or they will gossip about me to their kids? Got it!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:wow OP i'm surprised how much grief your post has gotten. i think there are a lot of defensive posters here! sit next to a dad -- best chance to "look social" if you care about that but to still have a chance to not listen to others the whole time.

Don't sit too close to that Dad. You'll be fodder for gossip by the other parents.

FFS- I hate people like you. You honestly would gossip about two parents watching a 9 year old baseball game next to each other?

Yes, they would gossip the whole freakin time instead of watching the game. I too hate people just like that and I too avoid these annoying moms and sit with the Dads. They also know more about the game and enjoy watching it. This goes the same for when we go to Superbowl parties or a Sunday BBQ to watch football. I sit with the Dads, everyone knows. I actually want to watch sports, not sit and chat about mindless fake gossip.

Anonymous wrote:OP, it's not just your DC who's on the team, it's you too. This means you have to engage with other parents. If you start avoiding them or pretend you are so busy that you have to be on the phone, you will seem as standoffish and uptight. Don't do this to your kid. Parents talk in front of their children about other parents' behavior. It's a sports game, not a ballet performance.

Some parents are introverts and their kids do just fine making friends and being socialized. I think that insecure parents think that they have to socialize all the time or else their kid will be excluded.

When I don't want to talk or be chatty I sit or stand away from the other parents. I don't see what's so difficult about that. Are your other kids old enough to by themselves on the bleachers? If I'm watching one kid play and my other kid is with me he doesn't stick by my side.

OP, it's not just your DC who's on the team, it's you too. This means you have to engage with other parents. If you start avoiding them or pretend you are so busy that you have to be on the phone, you will seem as standoffish and uptight. Don't do this to your kid. Parents talk in front of their children about other parents' behavior. It's a sports game, not a ballet performance.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've definifely said "I'm going to go focus on the game now so I dont miss dd scoring a goal and getting railed on it for a whole month (wink wink)." Just be friendly and there should be no problem.

Why do you have to do this? You WANT to watch the game. Why act like some frivolous chatting is more important than your kid's playing time. I enjoy watching the games. I like cheering for my child. I hate the chatty moms who are clueless about the game and think it is cool to not care about their kid's sports.

OP, I sit with the Dads or I keep score/ do the books.

+1000

Anonymous wrote:Do you have the classic asshole BMW driving chatty dad/mom with the fake smile, gripping the Starbucks cup for dear life who won't stop talking to even take a breath for the love of christ? Yeah. You cannot tune these people out. They bait you with endless questions about where you'll be 'summering' and what school will junior be attending next year. You want to kill them. You cannot redirect their conversation. They're narcissists. You have to buy a chair and a blanket and position yourself at a distance from them and cheer loudly and carry on with your life.

Yeah, I would watch the game and "chat" with them, but periodically answer the wrong question.

Where are you summering?
--yeah, I know. The teen years are hard, aren't they? And we have to decide whether to enroll John Jr in driving school this summer.
What? Didn't you hear me? I asked where are you summering?
--Oh, sorry. I was watching Jane's play at second base. Just a second. "Good catch, Jane!"

After a while, either they'll go into a monologue that you can tune out and just murmur "I know" "Really?" etc or they'll get annoyed by you and go and annoy someone else.

very simple, OP. Just say "I really want to watch the game, and when I'm chatting I miss things. Sorry!"

Personally when I go to the games, the best part is chatting with the other parents. Nothing more dull than 9 year olds playing soccer! But I don't want to talk with someone who'd rather be watching the game. (Often I ask this directly. ie, am I distracting you from the game? Or do you want to watch? Sometimes I do want to watch the game, and I will say as much to the person I'd been talking to. This shouldn't be so hard for you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:wow OP i'm surprised how much grief your post has gotten. i think there are a lot of defensive posters here! sit next to a dad -- best chance to "look social" if you care about that but to still have a chance to not listen to others the whole time.

Don't sit too close to that Dad. You'll be fodder for gossip by the other parents.

FFS- I hate people like you. You honestly would gossip about two parents watching a 9 year old baseball game next to each other?