5AF Parenting Thread

[mac5155]

Not sure where to put this so I'll dump it here. We're going to Hersheypark in the summer. I see they have a 2 day ticket on sale for $84 currently. It says best price of the year. Is this truly the best price of the year?

[Beveridge]

We went last year and I can't remember. I tried going back and looking at credit card statements, but the tickets were bundled with other purchases and those emails are long gone. I want to say it was in the mid 40s. I definitely don't think I paid less than 40 per day.

[NTP66]

If you look at the ticket prices page through archive.org (link), that’s a good price. They were $50/each last March.

[King Colby]

I think I paid like $89 for one day and it was a really nice teacher discount so yeah thats a good price

[RonnieFranchise]

If you're bored this evening or tomorrow, the PSO is presenting Fiddler On the Roof at Heinz Hall, featuring my daughter in the chorus. #dadbrag

Seriously it is a great show, which is good because we will be seeing it both times.

[robbiestoupe]

Just missed her Franchise. We saw the carnival of the animals earlier today.

[count2infinity]

Our neighbors have a kid that just turned 9. He and our soon to be 6 year old have been buddies since we moved in a few years ago. He’s invited her to his birthday party the last two years for laser tag.

Last year we declined as 8 and 5 (2nd grade and preschool) seemed like such a huge gap. This year I decided to take her. Not only did she have a blast. She held her own. She didn’t come in last place a single round.

Also, she fell and bumped her head during one of the rounds. Our neighbor kid demanded everyone stop, sent someone to get the attendant and they all took care of her. By the time I got in there, she was good and shooed me away.

I say all this just to say: the kids are alright.

[Orlando Penguin]

Save that story for their wedding.

[NTP66]

Man, some buddies and I used to do those overnight laser tag events. It was always so much fun, even if you were sweating your ass off.

[RonnieFranchise]

Man, some buddies and I used to do those overnight laser tag events. It was always so much fun, even if you were sweating your ass off.

At age 52, the thought of any sort of "overnight event" just doesn't hold the cachet it used to.

[RonnieFranchise]

As the WFH parent, being told "hey, can you call the Doctor this morning and see if you can get Little Franchise in after school?" on Monday morning is not the way you want to start your week.

Been on hold for 13 minutes and I've only moved from #13 to #9 in the queue.

WTF is going on with some of these peoples kids? Once they pick my call up, it's like one minute of either them telling me to either give her something or scheduling an appointment.

[mac5155]

I'm convinced people give them a 20 minute story about their kids. Hey my kids sick. Runny nose cough no fever. I'm available from 9-4 today. What you got? Is usually my go to.

Being the WFH parent sucks though from a parenting perspective lol

[mac5155]

That said it still beats the alternative...im able to be much more involved in my kids lives. I'm even coaching TeeBall this year. I'd never be able to do that with my old commute.

[Beveridge]

I'm even coaching TeeBall this year.

God speed, man. It was an experience.

[RonnieFranchise]

There are definitely pluses and minuses. She is getting her license soon so good example, the plus is I don't have to drag my ass to the school and back to drop off/pick up for soccer, musical, and whatever other practices and meetings she has. The minus is that it is good time to catch up on what's going on with her and when she gets home, like most teenagers, she goes into her room, comes out for dinner, and that's about all you see her.

If I had one thing to change in my youth sports days, I would have not used "I don't really know baseball and I've never coached anything" as a reason not to coach my oldest. Main reason being- the coach's kids get to pitch. He is a lefty and we thought he might get a shot, but he never did. One coach's kid not only pitched, half assed, but played short every game and was terrible. But he got trotted out every game. Now, when I coached soccer after learning that lesson, Mrs. Franchise told me it seemed like I was going out of my way to ensure I wasn't giving my kid preferential treatment and sometimes they didn't get the playing time other kids were. So, it can go both ways.

Good luck!

[Beveridge]

I go back and forth if I want to coach beyond T-Ball or not. I don't mind the kids - it's the parents. My philosophy for anything less than High School sports is let the kids play different spots and different amounts and learn what they like and don't like. If a game is 6 innings, then every kid better play 3. Now if the kid can't put the ball across the plate, then pitching isn't for you, but if you want to try and can throw some strikes, let it rip, buddy.

[mac5155]

I'm even coaching TeeBall this year.

God speed, man. It was an experience.

I helped last year. This year they didn't have enough so I told the guy I was helping (also the TeeBall commissioner) I'd split off and take my own. I have 2 of my buddys kids on my team and they said they'll help. I'll be good. But yeah it's an experience lol. I'm not a baseball guy so I'll probably just be a TeeBall coach and that's all. But yeah it'll be fun

[mac5155]

I can see that being the case too RF. So I guess we'll take it as it comes and see.

[CBear3]

I have zero athletic ability. Still, I have coached Futsal, soccer, basketball, softball and assisted football.

I learned to emphasize with parents that my three jobs are: Keep the kids safe, make things fun, teach them some things (in that order). If you succeed at all three, the scoreboard usually follows. If you want to learn the details and fine points, that's what private instruction is for when they get older.

[shafnutz05]

I have zero athletic ability. Still, I have coached Futsal, soccer, basketball, softball and assisted football.

I learned to emphasize with parents that my three jobs are: Keep the kids safe, make things fun, teach them some things (in that order). If you succeed at all three, the scoreboard usually follows. If you want to learn the details and fine points, that's what private instruction is for when they get older.

This is a great approach. 100% agree on individual coaching that really want their kids to be a cut above.

[MWB]

Now, when I coached soccer after learning that lesson, Mrs. Franchise told me it seemed like I was going out of my way to ensure I wasn't giving my kid preferential treatment and sometimes they didn't get the playing time other kids were. So, it can go both ways.

Good luck!

I was the same way when I coached my daughter and my ex wife would get mad at me about it. I think I was being fair and doing what a good coach would do, but some parents never see that no matter what.

I’ve coached soccer, softball, volleyball and basketball for my daughters at younger ages, and coached my daughter in basketball through middle school and some high school. As others have said, the parents are the worst part. Otherwise I always enjoyed that time with my kids and getting to know other kids. You get to see a different side of them which is cool.

[mac5155]

It's kind of ridiculous that out of 77 kids.. 5 parents volunteered to coach. A plea was made and 2 additional parents stepped up.

[Orlando Penguin]

Nobody will sign up but they’ll all be much better coaches in the bleachers.

[RonnieFranchise]

It's kind of ridiculous that out of 77 kids.. 5 parents volunteered to coach. A plea was made and 2 additional parents stepped up.

Apart from the police coming out a few times to settle unruly misbehaving parents, that was the worst part of being a club president. OK, 60 of you signed up for your kid to play but you're getting a refund if none of you step up to coach. That was enough for 4 teams but only 3 stepped up. Then they ***** that their kids weren't playing enough. Not to mention having to play a 3 team round robin so every weekend either someone had a bye or a double header. Well gee, wonder why? Step up next time.

[mac5155]

Rough parent afternoon today. My kid asked why he got in trouble once for making fun of a kid the other day but people made fun of his shirt (a Penn State football jersey - 'oh the places you'll go' themed day for Dr seuss, wear your favorite college gear) and they don't get in trouble for it, his teacher included. Don't really know what to say in these kind of situations. (all joking aside you Pitt fan boys)