To think it's mad standing at the side of football training in the cold, wet and dark?

[RessicaJabbit]

Kids football group.

All the parents stand around outside for an hour.

Right outside a warm cafe...

AIBU to be the only one who sits inside, reads my book and enjoys a hot drink?

I have invited them to join me.

I sit in my car and do all my emails, shopping order and general admin stuff. It’s the golden hour!

YANBU to go to the cafe.

YABU to care whether anyone else does, though. What does it matter to you whether the other parents want to stand outside or not?

My DS gets dropped off and picked up or, during the winter he walks to and gets picked up afterwards. Pointless standing around watching them train! We go all his matches and tournaments though

I coach rugby u6. I’ll help them up if they hurt themselves but I’m not there for cuddles, trips to the loo, or to manage bad behaviour. I don’t have phone numbers for parents either - it’s not a babysitting service!

Cheering them on at training..?

I think if theyre little its a bit different. But I don't think my 14yo DS needs me at training in case he needs a cuddle or a wee

What you don't go to their lessons and watch??? Surely you want to see how they're getting on, give them tips and check they're being polite to the music teacher...

My 11yo plays contact rugby too so I’m still expected to be on site in case of injuries, which are more likely when older.

Isn't weird how people think they need to stay and watch an hour long training session to support their kids, give them tips, check they're respectful ... but wouldn't stand by the side of a martial arts mat and give tips...or into a ballet studio each week and check their progress...or watch every single tennis lesson from the sides to see how they're doing.

But football... It's the done thing? And I'm somehow a terrible mother for not standing around in the cold and wet 🤷‍♀️

Nowt as queer as folk.

You watch them having their music lessons?!

I think she meant overseeing their practice at home.

For generations the women in my family have been equestrians, I was out with my mother preparing to compete from 4:30 in the morning as a tween so it’s only fair I do the same for my DC. I don’t mind standing out in the rain at all hours for that, mucking out and the rest of it, but I still couldn’t imagine being a football parent.

So far I have been very lucky that horse riding and dance have been the only activities she’s into because I couldn’t stand going to kids football. I took my nephew for a few weeks and time has never moved slower.

I would do it, enthusiastically, if she wanted, but I’m very grateful she’s taken after the rest of us.

When DS was training with the local professional club’s junior academy, I used to take my marking [teacher] into the neighbouring sports hall building and catch up with my work there.

DS was dropped after a few years, partly because we were obviously insufficiently dedicated parents.

(Marking books at the back of the hall for jazz band rehearsals some years later was MUCH pleasanter!)

I have t read every comment to be fair but is anyone calling you a terrible mother? I’ve seen various people saying they like watching; that doesn’t make them queer.

I'm out in all weather's for dds football training, running club, rugby, netball and I'm there at her kickboxing too. The only drop and run I do is brownies.

Dd loves me watching, and she loves to talk about it for hours afterwards too. I preferred it when her special interest was dinosaurs and not sports.

It's just the shit you do for your kids 🤷🏽‍♀️

Well there's an implication that they stand and watch because they love their kids and who wouldn't want to watch small children chase a small ball around trying to get it into a pop up goal or dribble it round small cones whilst being rained on and blown about... It's all for the kids and love of them...

I should’ve read the whole thread but I just wanted to add that obviously due to the dangerous nature of equestrian sports everyone stays. It gets better when they’re older though, the expectations/rules will be less and nobody will bat an eye that you don’t participate.

I would be in that cafe right along with you honestly. It’s beyond dull if you have no personal interest in the sport.

Is there? I’ve not read anyone who had said anything like that (apart from you).

Has anyone actually said you’re a terrible person?

Both my kids did martial arts for a year and for that club we had to stay and watch. My older child does an indoor sport and it’s not expected to stay and watch but I will watch some of it just to see what they’re doing in the session and how she’s getting on.

People have just given the reasons why they choose to watch. You are happier in the cafe and that’s fine. Others are happier watching. That’s also fine.

You started a thread declaring other people’s choices to be mad so no point getting touchy if people judge yours.

I’m not sure anyone is actually judging the OP, she seems to have decided people are but no evidence of it on this thread from what I’ve seen…

I have always loved watching my children do all kinds of sports. When it's raining and cold i dress accordingly. I have never been a fan of winter but it's no great hardship.

I personally think it's mad when parents stand or sit there scrolling away on their phone like zombies when they could be watching their children have fun.

My son is 17. It's now the only part of his life that I'm routinely welcomed at so yes I'm there on the respect line week in week out. It means I know all his team mates and can talk football with him. Will miss it when he goes to uni next year.

It's not a football thing. My DS does rugby, football and swimming (he is 7) and we aren't allowed to leave for any of them.

Fortunately October to March our football training is in the gym at a local secondary school but rugby is outside, rain or wind or hail.

You do sound a bit defensive op. Absolutely fine if you want to stay in the warm and read a book, but if others choose to stand and watch they aren’t wrong either. Some parents are really into football and genuinely enjoy watching the tactics and progression. I know one dad who goes to watch the opposition games just to get an idea of who is good and how they play! For some people it’s a big deal.