I’m pretty sure I just got disinvited from being a spectator at my own kids sport by my own kid.
Can she even do that? That MUST be against the rules? As you all know: One of the main payoffs from all the facets involved in parenting a junior athlete is occasionally living your dreams through them. I do it privately of course but I admit to doing it. I love bursting with pride, who doesn’t? I love being there to give the reassuring nod from the sidelines should it be required.
Incidentally I give EXCELLENT reassuring looks. Squinty and warm with just a touch of arse kicking around the sides. Needless to say, I didn’t react to this snub well.
My eldest child is about to start playing Netty in a new team, she plays centre, generally dominates the play and has excellent feet (that’s Netty talk you won’t get it if you aren’t into Netty. By the by: Netty is netball.) We were in the kitchen a couple of nights ago and I said to her:
“Babes will all your games be at the leisure centre? I was thinking each week I can just run down there with the dog and we can walk home together.”
I had this vision of her and I walking back tossing the ball between us, getting hot chocolates you know; just hanging out. I can also confirm “Wind beneath my wings” was playing, I was her age and there was a great deal of super slow mo involved.
“Mum, I don’t need you to come to my games okay? I will be fine. Just pick me up after it finishes.”
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I'm 27, my sister is 25 and my parents both come to watch as many of our soccer games as they can - my father even coaches my team. We love having them there, it's time away from the stress of home/work, where they can just relax and cheer us on.
I would do the turning up before the finish option, as someone below suggested. For whatever reason my kids don't seem to mind us turning up to watch their games (my son even likes us to watch his footy games and he's in his 20s) and actually like us to come to open days at their dance school etc.
It's just an early, permanently embarrassed, teen thing at the moment.
What does disappoint me is the judgement put on Em in the comments here. Clearly she's not your run of the mill, blend in with the crowd, suburban mum, but do we all have to be? As long as she does the best she can by her kids, that should really be all that matters.