Sports Teams and Snacks: Can’t We All Just Feed Our Own Offspring?

About ten years ago I stepped into the world of organized, recreational sports and signed my oldest son up for soccer. Besides the uniforms to buy, the practices, the game dates and rain-out make-up dates, there is also a designated date(s) on which to be Snack Mom (or Dad). My head would hurt from the math if I told you how many different teams of baseball, soccer, football and roller hockey on which my 3 boys have played.

Here is a nice snack mom memory: on one soccer team a child had severe allergies and that mom stated if everyone gave her $3 she would have small waters and snacks at each and every game. Genius.

Here is a painful memory: for football the team mom decided that for each game a parent had to provide orange slices and Gatorade at half time, another parent for drinks at end of game, and another parent for snacks at end of game. There were 30 players plus the coaches we were told for whom to provide. Once we saw her yell at a kid who did not want the ice cream sandwich provided by a Snack Mom.

Here is a memory from a 6^th/7th grade baseball team: a coach (a dad) sent us parents an email that we (the parents) remember to tuck a jacket in our son’s bag in case it gets cool and to pack a snack for the boys because sometimes they get hungry before the game (I told my son that having his baseball bag ready means he puts in a water and anything else he needs ready before departure time).

Here is a great idea: LET'S NOT PROVIDE SNACKS.

Last night my 3^rd grader had a baseball game at 6:00--to be at the batting cages at around 5:15. And I was Snack Mom last night. Which means during my lunch hour I ran through Target getting 12 small Gatorades and a box of 12 Oreos or Chips Ahoy cookies. (And the other usual $100 worth of stuff the guys in my house eat and barely make last a week).

I waved to Hubs who had our 3^rd grader with him as we passed each other on our street. I then had to unload all the goods, put the 12 drinks on ice, get the other two boys and stuff loaded up and drop off oldest son at the 8^th grader’s field by 6:00 for his 7:00 game. I then hustled across the park to watch my 3^rd grader’s game. After the game each boy saw I was Snack Mom and reached in the cooler for a Gatorade and a snack. Besides my son, one boy out of 12 said thank you. They are 3^rd and 4^th graders.

We then went over to the 13 and 14 yr old field to watch my 8^th grader play some. Did I mention that I am the Team Mom……..and No One Has To Provide Snacks for these boys. Yep, I implemented a “Let’s simplify our busy lives and bring our boys home for own dinner and dessert Policy.” There was not a grumble. I have noticed in many ways that by this age even the parents have seemed to change, and I like it a lot.

Btw, last spring I was the team mom for the 11/12 yr old team and I suggested that the boys are older now and perhaps each player should provide his own drink and snack. The coach supported this and only one mom stated that it was unusual but that would be fine.

I took my other two sons home and didn’t see the end of my 8th grader's game. Later after he got home with Hubs, my 13 yr old said to me, “You know what, after the game I saw that the other team had snacks handed out. It looked so weird! I mean--we are all 13 and 14 yrs old!”

And at this age the coach has decided to no longer award a “game ball” to a remarkable player of each game. Because they are a team. I love it.