Do you take younger siblings to the all your other kids sporting events?

[Mkrop]

My neighbor and I were talking at the bus stop this morning, and I mentioned out loud that I was debating on going to DS10 Flag Football game at 7:30 tonight. It is far (45 minutes) and in bad neighborhood and many of the other moms with small kids are not going, so I was wondering about taking DS4 or staying home and just letting DH go. Although another friend of mine will be there with her son and the boys play well together so I am still on the fence.

Well my neighbor said we took D to all of K's games and he just learned to suck it up, I would never miss my kids game. Well I have also heard D melt down when he has been dragged to one more of her DD's million games. One time I even offered to let him hang out at home with us since the game was local and they would be back in an hour and she said no that he had to go with them

Now dont get me wrong I have dragged DS4 to plenty of games, over the years, I mean last week I said "cmon we have to go to DS10"s game and DS4 looked at me and said "which sport". Two weeks ago I wouldnt leave a football game bc I was the only parent there for DS bc DH was out of town. So DS4 and I stood there huddle under an umbrella and I was grateful it was warm that day and not a chilly rain.

But sometimes I think the younger ones dont need to sit at another baseball game etc. Sometimes they need to just chill at home.

 

[Mickeyluver37]

I have to say I'm with your neighbor. My kids are often bored at each others games, but it's something we do as a whole family. If I OR DH miss something, it's because there's a major conflict, not because we're sitting at home.

 

[Hannathy]

No I don't make my kids go to their siblings games, that is cruel, half the time I don't even want to go! I don't go to every game I think kids need to be free of hovering parents to play and learn with out an audience. If one parent goes the other doesn't.

 

[Christine]

I am with you on this one.

I know it's just a family philosphy, but I think it's ridiculous to make all family members, especially young ones, endure EVERY game of an older sibling. I've been to so many where the younger sibs are just bored and the parents are having to watch the younger kids.

In your case, I'd stay home from this one. Don't get caught up in the feeling that you have to be EVERYTHING to your children. They will be fine if you miss a game here and there.

 

[r3ngels]

I have 3 kids all in sports and it is impossible to attend evey game... they overlap.

I don't think it is fair to bring my kids to every game for every sibling... we have 6 games this weekend they would never be home and some of the games are really early to wake up 5 days a week for school and then on the weekends for siblings games seems mean.

I told all of them in the begining of the season that they would have either Mom or Dad at every game and sometimes the whole family but we all can't go to every game. I also said no complaining about going to the other games because they love having siblings there to cheer them on so they should do the same on occasion.

 

[PrincessPAC]

The whole family usually goes to each others' games. However, sometimes when DD2 is in one of her moods, either I'll stay home with her while DH goes to the game or my mother will watch her. I think it's important for the kids to support each other. It's just that 2 years old is a little young.

 

[r3ngels]

I forgot to add... just think of how much money you would save by not going to the concession stand I feel like an ATM machine at some of these games...

 

[java]

4 kids and honestly with 2 of them on 4 different teams right now, I am lucky the player is at the game. I have missed a couple of the school team soccer games because of the time. So if it is an option- if I have someone to leave the others with I would. But usually I don't so everyone goes.
I spent my teen years sitting through every baseball, soccer, basketball game of my brothers. It was torture.

 

[mommasita]

It depends.

Tomorrow morning we have to be at the park for 8:30AM, as my Son is 11, and his football game is away. My husband works, so I will go along with my daughter who is 8. It will be a LONG day for her, but she has to suck it up. Now, if I had someone offering to watch her (my mom, or SIL), I would be all over it, but I don't.

I repeat this but for 8AM on Monday, as it is Canadian Thanksgiving, and we end our regular season on Monday....She will be bored, complain, etc, etc...

I try not to miss a game, but I missed one due to work this year. My daughter stayed at my Mom's for quite a few of them..

 

[Mkrop]

I have to say I'm with your neighbor. My kids are often bored at each others games, but it's something we do as a whole family. If I OR DH miss something, it's because there's a major conflict, not because we're sitting at home.

So if the weather is poor, you make the whole family endure that .

Many of the moms tonight that have said theya re not going is bc it is the younger ones bedtime and they dont want to deal with cranky kids on the sidelines.

I know DS4 can endure staying up so it isnt that for tonight.

I am with you on this one.

I know it's just a family philosphy, but I think it's ridiculous to make all family members, especially young ones, endure EVERY game of an older sibling. I've been to so many where the younger sibs are just bored and the parents are having to watch the younger kids.
In your case, I'd stay home from this one. Don't get caught up in the feeling that you have to be EVERYTHING to your children. They will be fine if you miss a game here and there.

Some days I feel like I am just "there", not watching the game bc I am busy making sure DS4 (he is getting better now that he is older) is not taking off or getting onto the field to go see Daddy who is coaching third base

I have no clue what the score is half the time and at the basbeall games at least all the moms with kids call out to the other one "hey your kid is up" so we can at least see that. DS10 has asked many times "hey mom did you see that play I made" and I say "sure honey that was awesome " meanwhile I had DS4 in the portapotty.(and let's not even go there )

 

[LisaNJ25]

I only have one in a sport and for the fall its cheerleading. Yes, my younger ones go. Unless they want to stay home and babysit each other they have no choice

 

[Christine]

So if the weather is poor, you make the whole family endure that .

Many of the moms tonight that have said theya re not going is bc it is the younger ones bedtime and they dont want to deal with cranky kids on the sidelines.

I know DS4 can endure staying up so it isnt that for tonight.




Some days I feel like I am just "there", not watching the game bc I am busy making sure DS4 (he is getting better now that he is older) is not taking off or getting onto the field to go see Daddy who is coaching third base

I have no clue what the score is half the time and at the basbeall games at least all the moms with kids call out to the other one "hey your kid is up" so we can at least see that. DS10 has asked many times "hey mom did you see that play I made" and I say "sure honey that was awesome " meanwhile I had DS4 in the portapotty.(and let's not even go there )

So, you're not really "there". When my DD was 8/9 and on a soccer team, my son was 4-5 years old. He could NEVER sit still at the games. I was chasing him all over the sideliens. He was whining, he was bored, etc. After doing this 3 times, I gave up. He never went to another game of my daughters. He wasn't interested and he couldn't sit still for longer than 30 minutes. I couldn't watch the game. So either my parents (his grandparents) took him while I went to the game, or I stayed home with him and my parents went so that we had someone from the family at the game.

 

[piglet too]

Well, in past years we arranged for a baby-sitter for DS13's football games. The younger two (DS8 and DD5) only went to a couple of games both years he played. However, the first year I was "Team Mom" and DH was a coach, so we had to be on the sidelines, no one to watch the younger two. Last year, I was on the sidelines again, and DH wanted to watch the games, not the younger two. This year, DS13 ran Cross Country and the younger two went to all the matches that we were able to take them to.

DS8 plays Flag Football, and his brother and sister come to the games when they want to. DD usually ends up playing at the park with the other younger siblings, so she is not watching anyways.

In our house, the kids know that we all support each other, and being there is not just a body thing.

 

[Beth76]

For the most part, yes. But it's not a family "rule" or anything. This year, my 6yo was in baseball and soccer. There are always other siblings around for my 3yo to play with. If my 3yo was having an off day, we wouldn't hesitate having one of us stay home with him. We just haven't had to deal with that yet. Last year, my 6yo played basketball at the Y. We would put the little one in the nursery because otherwise he would want to play on the court with his brother.

OP, as far as your situation tonight, I wouldn't bring my younger son to that particular game.

 

[crzyred]

When I was growing up, I was forced to go to my siblings sporting events. I am the youngest child, I HAD to go. There actually were times that I had to pick whether I wanted to watch my sister's games or my brother's games.

However, when it came time for me to play sports, suddenly no one was around. Heck even my parents didn't make it to the majority of them. For me, that was hard.

I'm a big stickler for families being together and creating that bond that only families should have. If the kids don't go, then at least have them ask how the game was when the older one gets home. Maybe you can do something to incorporate the sport the child plays into something the younger child does, so at least the younger child is excited about the sport.

 

[Freyja]

DH and I take turns going to their games. We hardly ever take the other kids with us unless they really want to go, or we´re going to make it a family outing (go for dinner aftwards, etc.).

 

[SeeDisney]

I'd said currently it's about half --- sometimes we'd all go as a family and sometimes one parent will go to the game. My younger kids are fine about attending my eldest games. They kick the ball, or do a coloring book or play gameboy, etc.

 

[Duchie]

We all usually go, but that's because we all want to go. There are typically other siblings there that my kids can't wait to play with. All the parents help keep an eye on the kids and we all have fun.

And I agree with r3ngels - oh the concession stand money I'd save if some of them would just stay home!

 

[CEDmom]

I only have a child but I do have 3 brothers and I went to a lot of their games but I wanted to since I was friends with a lot of the other younger siblings. I was never forced to go. I can't imagine saying a little child should suck it up about something to a soccer game. Now if it was a tournament or chamionship game then I think having both parents there is important.

Just a thought, but why can't the older child suck it up and deal with not having mom and dad there ?

 

[jrmasm]

My 3 year old loves to go to her older sister's games. If that ever changes, I will not force her to go to every game. When she's old enough to play, I will force her older sister to go because she owes the little one.