Missing a Practice or Game...

The other night our daughter had a soccer practice with me, (Kim), as the coach, our son had a lacrosse practice, and our oldest son had a lacrosse game. In the scheme of things, this was a fairly simple night--each child had only one place to be and only one of us was coaching. (There have been nights that both of us had to coach and the children had multiple activities, such as Brownies, Religion Class, and two sports practices.)

The problem was that I don't often watch our oldest son's lacrosse games because I'm coaching another sport or driving the other two kids to practices. So...this week I was determined to watch his game.

After a long day of worrying about how I was going to get each child where he or she needed to be, I managed to drop my daughter at a teammate's house an hour before her soccer practice. I told my middle child that he had to ride his bike to lacrosse practice and that I would pick him and his bike up at the end of his practice. (It is possible for him to ride his bike two miles to practice, but we have to be careful in case of rain.) Last, I drove across town in rush hour and managed to watch our oldest son's game. Hooray!

In this case, it was me who missed coaching; however, a co-coach covered for me. Each day I juggle and figure out how I can get each of my children to their activities. I do my best, but sometimes one of us has to miss an activity, especially when Ed is out of town.

This is youth sports, and I'm human. Let's face it--it might be difficult, but sometimes we have to just say "no."

-Kim

Are You Over-scheduled?

We are over-scheduled sports parents. I recommend taking a deep breath before reading my schedule from last weekend:

Friday:

• Husband and Child #1 drove to Toledo for hockey camp through Sunday.
• Missed Child #1's lacrosse game because Child #1 was in Toledo.

Saturday morning:

• Child #2 was picked up by friend's parents for weekend lacrosse tournament in Cincinnati.
• Child #3 played in local soccer game and I coached (in pouring down rain).

Saturday late morning:

• Child #3 and I drove to Cincinnati (two hours) for Child #2's lacrosse tournament. (Due to congestion in tournament parking lot, we missed Child #2's first game of the day.)

Saturday afternoon:

• Child #3 and I watched two of Child #2's lacrosse games.

Saturday evening:

• Child #2, Child #3, and I met relatives for quick dinner and to discuss possible speaking engagement.
• Child #2 went home with my sister-in-law for the night.
• Child #3 and I drove back to Columbus (two hours).

Sunday morning:

• Sister-in-law drove Child #2 to lacrosse tournament (three more games).
• Child #3 and I drove to Akron (two hours) for my sister's baby shower.

Sunday afternoon:

• Friends drove Child #2 back to Columbus (two hours).
• Husband sent Child #1 to Akron (two hours) with friends so I could pick him up and drive him back to Columbus.
• Husband drove somewhere in Ohio for work. (Yes, we have jobs to earn money.)
• Child #3 and I left Baby Shower and picked up Child #1 at friend's house in Akron.

Sunday evening:

• Child #1, Child #3, and I drove home to Columbus (two hours).
• I picked up Child #2 at friend's house.

Sound familiar? Are you confused? I'm confused, but this is typical for most sports-parents. Do you agree?

-Kim