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I’m a rare mom – I’ve been looking forward to being a sideline parent for a long time. I enjoy practices and games and you won’t find me complaining that they take too long. The kids need to practice for a reason! The games are fun, and watching them have fun and learn is so rewarding. But as a sideline parent, you do need to be prepared. You can actually enjoy being a sideline parent if you are prepared and ready for practices and games and I’m going to share with you how!
Easy Ways to Enjoy Being a Sideline Parent
Bring the camera. It’s time to be the mamarazzi – and you’ve been preparing for this since before they were born so don’t quit now! Capture the excitement and the hard work during both practices and games. At the end of the season, you can put together a little photo book and when they go off to play in the big leagues, you have all of these adorable moments to share with the media.
In all seriousness, taking photos and videos shows your child you support them and are proud of them. Mine often ask to see what pictures I took, so I like to have a few to show them. Plus, it gives me great Instagram material! I try to take photos or a quick video anytime he plays a new position so we can have those shots. As you can see above, he loves playing catcher and his little batting stance is just adorable!
Bring comfort items. Check the weather before leaving for a practice or game and leave the house prepared. If it looks like rain, bring an umbrella or poncho. If it’s cold, wear a warm outfit and grab a fun blanket. If it’s hot, bring a misting fan, seek out the shade or bring your own umbrella or covered chair.
I always bring my own chair. I hate the hard bleachers and my bottom always goes numb and falls asleep. We just keep the chairs in the back of the van and leave a blanket or two since Ohio weather can vary in the spring (cold to hot and back to cold within days).
Bring snacks and drinks. Depending on the timing of practice or the game, you can bring something light to snack on like NABISCO Multipacks or something more substantial and avoid the concession lines. The NABISCO RITZ Bits Cracker Sandwiches are an easy choice, and available at every Walmart. I tend to keep a couple packs in my bag and will grab a POWERADE® from the fridge to keep my hydrated, especially when it’s hot out. Both are at Walmart and the POWERADE® 8pk 20oz bottles are on rollback!
Keep an eye out for additional coupon savings to bring your sideline snacking costs even lower. There is a coupon neck hanger on POWERADE (8pk 20oz): Save $1.50 on NABISCO 20-pack Multipack. There’s also a coupon sticker on boxes of Nabisco snack packs: Savings of .75 when you purchase a 12-pack or larger NABISCO Multipack!
You can also score points with the other parents by sharing your snacks and drinks. There’s always a “snack parent” who brings the team snacks but parents are left out! Be the snack parent for the parents and you’ve got yourself some new friends!
If you truly can’t stand to watch an entire practice or game, then bring along a puzzle book or adult coloring book to entertain yourself. Just be sure to watch at least the parts where your kid is active!
