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

[JVL1018]

My two go to each others games, they always have friends there that they play with, it's a social thing.
If they wanted to stay home and had someone to stay with them, not a problem, but I try to go to every game, and DH coaches, so we're both there.

 

[eh24fan]

My son plays flag football in the fall and baseball in the spring. The baby always goes with me to the games and practices. Unless the weather is horrible and there are folks that can keep him. But the way we see it, we will all go and enjoy the games as a family. I always went to my brothers' games and that's just what we did. No whining, no complaining. It's just what we do. I can't imagine missing one of my son's games! I LOVE being there, cheering him on and seeing the good and the bad.

 

[SpecialK]

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.).

This is what we do ,too. My kids are fine with it. Taking little ones to games takes all the enjoyment out of being there (for me.)

 

[Kae]

DD goes to most of DS games but last weekend my Sister was in town so she wanted to be with her aunt & that's fine. DS games are only around an hour. When we travel out of town for weekend touraments we do not take DD.

Kae

 

[mamacatnv]

I think this really comes down to logistics and the resources a family has. We have no relatives near by and babysitters were few and far between so starting at 48 hours of age when DD attended soccer fest she was almost always with us.

When DD was younger and her brother was playing baseball/soccer she attended all his games with us. I always took a bucket of toys for her and there were several times that I would hire someone's older sister who was also there to take her to the playground or play with her. This worked out very well for several years. If it was cold and miserable she had a snowsuit.

Now that her Brother plays HS Football which she does not enjoy and she is old enough she stays with assorted friends for the night. Everyone is happy.

Now that DD is playing softball it is still a family event. We make an effort to be at each and every game - but until last year we only had one kid playing a sport and logistically it was feasible so we did it.

In 4 years we have missed 2 football games - one was a 350 mile drive his Freshman year at the other end of the state and the other was last weekend when DD had step throat, DS had a knee injury and was not going to be playing, the game was a 2.5 hour drive into the mountains and it snowed over night.

I know that our son still looks to make sure we are in the stands each and every game and we would not willingly disappoint him.

 

[ZachnElli]

Yeah, I take them. But dh is almost always working, so it's just me and the kids and I have to take them to the games. I like going and actually watching the games, not just being there. I take a big bag full of toys, books and snacks for my youngest (2) and tell DD to take a book or her DS. If my 2 year old has a meltdown or the weather gets bad, I take them to the van (where the DVD player comes in handy) and I watch from there. Actually at one field, I never got out, I could park so I could see easily and the younger ones could just stay in the van and watch the DVD or play.

 

[kellyg403]

Tough question. At one point in my life I would have said yes, we all go because I make the younger kids go. At this point in my life, I don't make them go everytime, but they know I do want them to attend some of the games for their siblings. Its important to me, as the mom, to have all the kids know their chosen sport, event is important. The teen dd's don't mind everyone showing up for thier events, will often remind siblings when they haven't gone to even one game yet but will fight tooth and nail if they have to attend something for someone else. So it actually has turned into a battle more than a great family time together. My 2 ds, well they enjoy football so I go for the band, they go for the game! Soccer is not one of their favorites and there are many more games played, so I don't make them always go since they are old enough to stay home if it is a home game. All away games we attend everyone goes whether they like it or not. I don't want to be in a position if we decide to stay overnight to be looking for someone to watch them. So, I think its a tough call and certainly is dependent on the age of the children, the number of games, and where the game is played.

Kelly