April 3rd, 2018 | Updated on May 3rd, 2018
Being the parent of a little athlete takes time and dedication. You must be willing to sacrifice events to games and fundraisers and prepare to be running around almost every night of the week. A lot of your time will go into managing your kids and making sure they are ready for baseball, soccer, dance or all three!
Being adequately prepared isn’t all about toting around your child’s gear, chauffeuring them to practice, and finding all the best brands of ballet shoes. You also need to find a way to take care of yourself in all that madness. Here is some of the must-have gear for sports parents as they play hard in a game called life.
1. Comfortable Portable Chairs
If you spend the better part of your summer at a field, you’re probably used to going to locations that offer nothing in the way of seating. While spreading out a blanket and lounging on the grass can be comfortable, it will have a negative impact on your posture after a while and isn’t feasible if the weather turns nasty.
Invest in a comfortable camp chair to take with you wherever you go. Foldable camp chairs take up little room in the trunk, meaning you can just leave them there all summer long.
You can find camp chairs with high backs, extra cushioning, and even tandem chairs that have a small table and umbrella in between. If you’re going to be on the field this summer, why not do it in style? Make sure your camp chair has cup holders to store the fuel that gets you through.
2. An Insulated Travel Mug
Early mornings and chilly evenings are the bane of any sports parents’ existence. Fortunately, there’s nothing like a hot cup of coffee or tea to keep you warm while your child engages in their favorite sport.
Pay the extra money to invest in a high-quality travel mug rather than a cheap one at the local dollar store. This will ensure you don’t get any leaks and that your drink stays hot until the game is done. You can even purchase travel mugs with a built-in, rechargeable heater.
3. A Soft Cooler
A soft cooler is a must-have for sports parents on the move. In these easily collapsible, washable coolers you can store snacks and cold drinks for tournaments and away games. Also, they’re easy to carry around if you know you’ll be missing a meal because you quickly had to transition from work mode to sports mode. They are versatile enough that you can use them for camping, beach days, and road trips on top of sporting events.
Soft coolers aren’t as bulky and difficult to carry around as their hard counterparts. You can even get a backpack style soft cooler to free your hands to carry more gear– or you can make your children carry it themselves.
4. Brain Food
When you go to a game, your main focus will be on your child and the rest of the team. When you go to practices, however, you might decide to take this time to unwind. This downtime is a great opportunity to practice your own self-improvement by bringing along brain games or a book. You might even take this time to practice a new skill!
By putting away your phone and taking this time for you, you’re practicing self-care without sacrificing post-practice family time. However, it’s also time to build a rapport with the other sports parents in your community. Bring an activity with you, and leave it in your bag if you don’t feel like engaging.
Remember to snap a lot of photos while at these events. It may seem like your efforts are underappreciated or that you have little time for yourself outside of the sports schedule, but your children will grow to understand everything you have done to make their childhood amazing.
