Do you attend plays, concerts, recitals, etc for nieces/nephews?

[golfgal]

My sister's kids are in dance and they perform the Nutcracker every year. My sister has been trying to get us to drive 3 hours each way to see this show. Well, this year we moved and only live 1/2 hour away and we are going. I don't want to go. It isn't a very good production, unless you are MOM and think the sun rises and sets with your child. ARRRGGGHHH!!!! I NEVER invite anyone to anything our kids are in. I will let them know if they have something coming up that is worth going to-like DS14's marching band competitions since they are the best band in the Midwest and are dang fund to watch--but I don't send out weekly e-mails reminding them of these things like SOME people I know. If they come, they come, if they don't less hassle for me .

 

[Michie]

no and i dont expect anybody to attend my dd's either.

 

[noodleknitter]

If at all possible. But I honestly don't mind them, and don't care if anyone comes to my kid's.

 

[Chattyaholic]

We've gone to a couple volleyball matches for our niece, but don't make a habit of it.

Our grandchildren are of the age where they're starting to get more involved in sports and things so we do go to theirs when we can.

 

[Kimberle]

My nephews are to far away. The 2 that are fairly close aren't really into any thing that would have a recital. I doubt BIL would even mention it to us if they were. Likewise, I've never mentioned anything my dd is in.

I might mention that she is taking xxx, if they inquired about watching her, I would then tell them.

 

[TheGoofster]

Living in another country makes it kind of tough. But when we are back in the states for a while we will occassionaly attend an event or two.

 

[maddiemouse]

Every chance I get. Unfortunately most of their stuff so far, (they're 6 and 4) is on Saturday afternoons, and I have to work on Saturday.

 

[Becky2005]

Umm...No but I've never been invited either. I would attend graduations, etc... but not your routine performances. Maybe if my niece/nephew had a special soloist part or something.

I never invite Aunts/Uncles to my kids stuff either (sometimes Grandma/Grandpa).

 

[tycopj]

Yes, I would go. You might actually enjoy it, and even if you don't, it would probably mean a lot to your sister and her kids.

I do attend a good number of events for my nieces and nephews. My sister attends a lot of events for my kids and so do grandma's and grandpa's. We are a very close family and live near each other. So it isn't a big deal to attend (distance wise).

Go, have fun, and be the Aunt in the audience smiling up at your wonderful niece and/or nephew

 

[Aimeedyan]

Nope. We are rarely informed of them, either. My SIL doesn't expect us to attend and neither do the kids.

We attend big things but that's it.

 

[disneyjunkie]

YES

 

[annegal]

The Nutcracker in our small city is a pretty big "deal". A professional ballet troupe puts it on & kids have to audition for various roles. I love ballet & would attend, at least once.

But no, I never attended neice/nephew events.

 

[Hedy]

I try to go when I can (esp. as my dad's dead). However, my niece's studio's performances are so horrible I cannot sit through them with a straight face, so I try to go to other things and be busy that weekend.

 

[MoniqueU]

If I had nieces and nephews I would make the effort to go to any of their things. I can't see why someone wouldn't. But if you are trying to say a marching band competition is more entertaining then the Nutcracker, gee it would be a tossup for me which one was the most tedious to sit through. Regardless I would make the effort to make it to such a close relatives special event.

 

[aprilgail2]

I went to all my niece and nephews things growing up, from their little preschool concerts to the high school stuff. My daughter is going to be in a irish step dance recital and I haven't mentioned the recital to anyone but they know she is in step dancing and so far my boss and his wife, my cousin, my aunt, 4 neighbors and my brother have all said "if she is in a recital we want to come" so I am sure she will have people there to support her in that. For her black belt I am hoping some people come to show her some support with that since she worked hard for years to get it.

 

[maxiesmom]

I have 2 nieces and 1 nephew. Nephew is in orchastra and takes private viola lessons. Niece #1 is in band and plays basketball. Niece #2 is only 6, so she only participates in school/church programs. I like to go see them. I really do. And at first it was my pleasure. But now, it is becoming more of a chore. Why? Because now it is expected that I will attend all events. It takes allot of the joy away when you know that you have to go, or get a huge guilt trip. And I'm not sure if it is just where we live, but it seems to have developed into some kind of competition. How many people came to see you today? Well, I have my family, both sets of grand-parents, and 1 aunt. How many people came to see you?

Concerts are chaos. We all have to pack into a venue to small to hold everyone that shows up. Which means getting there as soon as the doors open, or you have to stand. And getting a seat means climbing up the bleachers, because most concerts are held in a gym. So you have all of these families trying to drag their kids up the bleachers, and mobs of grandparents trying to do the same.

And in a couple of years, my younger niece will have to take either band/choir/orchestra. So that will be another set of concerts to see.

It wasn't like this when I was a kid. I was lucky if 1 parent showed up. My mom worked 2nd shift, and my dad was a retail manager. I wasn't ruined for life because I didn't have 10 people show up to see me sing.

so my answer is yes, I go. But sometimes I really resent having to. Sorry, you touched a nerve. I can't help but think that it isn't really good that we are teaching our children that the world revolves around every thing that they do.

 

[Missy1961]

I have 13 nieces & nephews. Only 2 live here in NY. I can't make every performance of all of the kids, but I go to all the big events--Communions, and soon, graduations. I have seen each of them in various sporting events as well. The older niece from NY (she is almost 8) has had non-speaking parts in various productions of the local community theater--and I have been to all, they have been great.

 

[disykat]

We live far enough away that it isn't an issue. We go if they are in something while we are in town though. I wouldn't wish my kid's band concerts on anyone at this point!

I think there's a place for relatives attending your things, but I think there's also a point where kids get an unrealistic view of the world and their place in it if everyone they know drops everything to be at their every performance.

 

[chell]

Since I don't have children of my own I try to be there for my nieces and nephews.

 

[disney4us2002]

No family to speak of per se (nieces are just 3 and 2 months) but I actually go to many community concerts, plays, etc. I think most are pretty good and the kids are just having such fun that it's contagious. I think in the next 2 weeks there are about 7 concerts I plan to attend between middle school orchestra and band and high school chorus and band not to mention a kids community theatre performance.

I don't expect professional performances; it's not Broadway after all.