The moment we have all been waiting for has finally arrived… SPRING IS HERE!! Do you know what tiny little event most of us forgot about? Spring sports season AKA: THE BUSIEST SPORTS SEASON OF THE YEAR.
I am so serious… spring sports seem to be busier than any other season. This may all be in my head (and the yearning for a relaxing summer schedule doesn’t help), but it is a problem none-the-less.
This year has gotten even busier for me since my pre-schooler is signed up for t-ball. So now we have our oldest on the high school soccer team, our 11-year-old playing major league baseball, and our preschooler playing t-ball.
How Will We Survive the Spring Sports Season !?
When I realized that we would have so much going on every single day this spring, I began to panic. I’m not going to lie, it wasn’t pretty.
Then, after taking a deep breath and reminding myself that I have to do this no matter what, I started brain storming. We have done spring sports every year, the only difference is that this year will be a little (or a lot) busier. I realized I needed a plan.
To start, I started thinking back on our past spring sports seasons and then took notes on the following:
- The items I commonly found myself needing but didn’t have
- Our dinner predicament
- The lack of time I had for anything else in my life (self-care, housework, quality time)
- How to be in multiple places at one time (impossible, obviously)
From there, I was able to compile a list of ways to survive the spring sports season this year.
5 Ways to Survive Your Child’s Sports Season
1. Keep an “emergency” bag in the car full of things you might need.
This bag should contain all of the things you find yourself needing, but you never seem to have with you. I always find myself in this predicament where I’m asking all the other moms for ibuprofen or a jacket. This method doesn’t always work for me, so this season I plan on being ahead of the game.
Some of the things I plan on keeping in my emergency bag are:
- ibuprofen or Tylenol
- bottled water
- snacks (for the kids and I both)
- a jacket (it gets chilly toward the end!)
- sunglasses
- sunscreen
- small toys for the
littles
I plan on keeping this bag in the car at all times, and my goal is to not have to re-pack it each night before heading out.
2. Plan ahead for dinner
I know I’m not the only parent who gets stuck hitting up a fast-food drive thru after practice most nights, right?! I can’t do that again this year! Not only does it leave me feeling like a terrible mom, but it also just makes me feel so unhealthy, bloated, and frustrated with myself.
This year, I plan on using my crock pot for the nights that I know we won’t have time to cook. For other nights, I plan on packing sandwiches and yummy sides to take with us to practice.
Another option is to cook meals that can be reheated the next night for a quick and easy dinner. I plan on using my meal planning printable religiously because sticking to the plan will be so much easier that way.
3. Squeeze in some “free time” whenever you can
OK, I know this might seem impossible, but it is SO important. Self-care is still important, even when your kids’ lives are extremely busy. You have to take advantage when your partner offers to handle all the running around once in a while, or you could ask one of the other moms to pick your child up for practice in exchange for a night where you do the same for her.
Figure something out so that you can get your housework caught up, read a book, watch your favorite TV show, or even take a long shower without interruptions. You can also use this time to spend some quality time with your other kiddos, because quality time can easily be pushed to the back of your mind during this busy time of year.
4. Become comfortable with saying “no”
You don’t have time for everything, and the sooner you admit to that the better off you will be. Be picky about what invitations you are accepting, and be comfortable admitting that you don’t have the time (or energy) to volunteer for a bunch of extra events.
5. Plan carpools with the other parents, or split forces
During the spring sports
The deal:
You take the kids to practice one night, and the other mom does it the next night.
Now, if this doesn’t work for you, you can always split forces with your child’s other parent. Rotating who will be responsible for practice each night can help with your kids’ overlapping schedules. Parent one will be at baseball practice while parent two will be picking up the teenager from soccer practice, and then rotate the next night.
Final Thoughts on Ways to Survive the Spring Sports Season
The spring sports season brings so many mixed emotions for me. While it is the busiest time of the year, so chaotic, and a bit overwhelming, it is so much fun to watch my kids doing what they love and making memories that will last forever.
My goal for this year’s spring sports season is to enjoy every bit of it. With these tips, I’m pretty confident it’ll happen. I can use all the help I can get, however, so leave a comment and tell us your best spring sports season hacks.
This is great!!
Thanks a lot😃
You’re welcome!! Thanks for reading!
Oh my goodness the business of spring sports!!! I can’t even imagine having to do it with 3. My littlest started t-ball this year and my oldest is playing baseball. We’re a solid month into the season now and I wish I had thought of these. Having an emergency bag in the car is a great idea. I will say, I’ve managed meals somewhat decently which has been a surprise to me. Good Luck to you and your kiddos this sports season! I hope it’s not too overwhelming and that you still find lots of time for yourself!
Stephanie recently posted…How to Overcome Life-Changing Events (and Thrive in the Process)
What meals do you usually make on sports nights? That’s one of my BIGGEST struggles!!
Thank you for reading and for your comment. I hope you survive this sports season, too!!
Honestly, we eat a lot of subs. I buy the sub rolls and the boys’ favorite lunch meat. They’re a step up from sandwiches, but still super easy. They also travel really well. If it’s not a late night, I’ll put together something simple, usually BBQ chicken, in a pan to throw in the oven when we get home. It cooks while the boys are showering and though it’s a late dinner, we usually have leftovers that I can make nachos, wraps, or quesadillas with over the next couple nights. And other nights, they just want macaroni and cheese with cut up hot dogs. But it’s definitely been a struggle for me and if I don’t have something planned early on in the day, I’m a frazzled mess.