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in Blog on October 15, 2021 by Kia Hammond

How I’m Navigating This Sports Season With Littles

By Kia Hammond | @kiamhammond

This past summer, my oldest daughter made her junior high school’s cheerleading team. I’m so excited and proud, but I’m quickly learning that junior high activities require a more rigorous practice schedule. So, I’m gearing up for the many practices, games, and cheer competitions in our future for this fall and winter season.

And I’m not doing it alone! As we have added more children to our family (I have a four-year-old, one-year-old, and I’m expecting another baby in December), her sports activities have turned into family events.

I come from a large family of six kids, and we all played sports and attended each other’s games throughout my childhood. Now that I have my own growing family, I’m finding that I’ve adopted my parents’ “go with the flow” and “this is our family culture” approach to sports season. I had a newborn baby when my oldest daughter started cheerleading at eight years old, and I vividly remember bringing my three-week-old baby to her first game.

Now that I’m getting ready to bring my soon-to-be trio of littles to watch their big sister perform this season, I’m sharing some tips I’ve learned along the way to keep everyone entertained and happy during sports season:

Pack The Car

We always have the car packed with everything that might be needed to keep the kids entertained, fed, and comfortable.

The first thing on our pack list? Snacks and drinks! Growing up, my family always had the all-important snack bag that my dad would pack before we left for any sport activity, and I’ve adopted something similar so we always have snacks and drinks ready to go!

We always have a diaper emergency kit with extra clothes, wipes and diapers, so we’re ready for any diaper situation that might come our way.

Pom Poms! They are my favorite thing to keeping the little kids engaged when they get antsy. It helps them feel like they’re really cheering on the team!

Need more entertainment? We also bring reusable sticker books, lovies, and picture books.

We also keep the car stocked with essentials that we can leave in the car during the week: strollers, umbrellas, baby carriers, blankets, and a first aid kit.

Have A Dinner Plan

I’m definitely a planner, so I’ve really had to learn to be flexible with meals during sports season. Sometimes that looks like pre-planning a slow cooker meal, or finding a convenient drive-through stop, or thinking through our snack schedule so we can have a later dinner than I’d normally prefer.

Trunk picnics (dinner in the trunk with a blanket) are also a hit in our family while we wait for a practice session to wrap up. The trunk of the car can also serve as a change of scenery for little kids during a long game.

And of course, we find that the concession stand on game days can be our friend! In addition to providing food/snacks, the walk over to the concession stand allows us to stretch our legs.

Set Up The Athlete For Success

To minimize last-minute running around the house, we make sure our cheerleader is fully packed the night before so she’s prepared for the next day’s practice or game day. Fundraiser slips are signed and packed at night, and if there’s a carpooling situation, we figure out details ahead of time so everyone is prepared and on the same page.

In our family, we want to encompass the feeling of supporting our family, and the experience of teamwork through a team sport. I know from my own experience that exposing kids to different sports through siblings can spark an interest for them, as well. Things will change as all of my kids get older, and I hope each kid will eventually have an activity they’re passionate about. Until then, this is how we are trying to make the most out of a lot of driving and spending days on a field or in the bleachers. I hope that they develop as many fond childhood memories of cheering on siblings as I have!

Kia Hammond | @kiamhammond

Kia lives in Central Pennsylvania with her husband and three children, and she’s currently pregnant with baby number four. She’s a former postpartum/newborn nurse who loves engaging, encouraging, and supporting new moms. She left the workforce during the pandemic after years of working and being a student mother and is now adjusting to life as a stay-at-home mom.

Related

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: fall, preschoolers, toddlers

About Kia Hammond

Kia lives in Central Pennsylvania with her husband and four children. She’s a former postpartum/newborn nurse who loves engaging, encouraging, and supporting new moms. She left the workforce during the pandemic after years of working and being a student mother and is now adjusting to life as a stay-at-home mom.

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Comments

  1. Ashley says

    October 16, 2021 at 12:35 am

    These are great tips! My kids aren’t in team sports yet but my oldest (5) is starting to do more activities that involve practices where I have to keep a wild 2.5 year old still. Any tips? It turns into a fight every time and almost feels not worth it.

    Reply

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Click this image at the link in our bio to get:
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New episode! Big black trash bag energy is in ful New episode!

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Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

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This recent picture of Eric and I adventuring in t This recent picture of Eric and I adventuring in the snow, well into our third year of dating, captures so much. 

But there's a lot it doesn't tell you, too. 

It doesn't tell you about the heartbreaking experience of watching my former marriage dissolve.

It doesn't tell you about the confusion and loneliness in the aftermath of my divorce six+ years ago.

It doesn't tell you about the time that, while driving home in the dark on a snowy evening, I reflected on the fact that nobody was expecting me to check in with them that night - that if I skidded into a ditch nobody would think to look for me for days.

It doesn't tell you about the twenty-five - yes, TWENTY-FIVE - first dates I went on prior to meeting Eric (the vast majority of those never turned into a second date.)

It doesn't tell you about the disappointments and doubts and tears leading up to finding my person.

And...

It also doesn't tell you about how much I (grudgingly) grew during that period of singleness. 

The strength and resourcefulness I discovered through having the space to run a household on my own and determine my own path in life. 

The peacefulness of a home run under my own steam, its rhythms based on my own values and priorities. 

The joy (and necessity) of getting back in touch with myself.

If you’re single and looking, I really do hope you find your person soon. I am so grateful for having found mine, and I know how hard it is to hear "your time will come, too" when you see no evidence of that on the horizon. (Especially going into February, right?)

But while you're waiting, there's another person (you) who deserves your attention...

and hard as it may be to see when you’re in the thick of doubt and disappointment…

that person is enough.
Looking for unique classroom valentines *and* a gr Looking for unique classroom valentines *and* a great deal? We love everything about @minted, from the high-quality paper and printing, to the ability to buy unique designs, freshly sourced from a community of independent artists. And right now, Minted has great deals on all things Valentine's Day!

(Pssst: they even have a Disney collection!)

Click this image at the link in our bio to get:
🎒 20% off Valentine photo cards, & classroom Valentines
🎁 20% off photo & stationery gifts on orders $250+
💕 15% off ALL orders with code BEMINE23.
🗓️ Sale ends Monday 1/30!

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Want more help and tips, plus reassurance that you’re doing a great job? (You are.) Search for The Mom Hour in your favorite podcast app and hit subscribe!

#kindergarten #firstgrade #valentinebox #leprechauntrap #shoeboxcraft #roomparent #roommom #classroomvalentines #parenting #momlife #parentingtip #tipsformoms
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Since this week's podcast episode is all about kids and alone time, we thought we'd revisit this resource on the blog by Sandy Hsu:

👉 How To Encourage Independence In Preschoolers With A “Quiet Time” Routine. 👈 

Sandy (@hopefulsmiles) give tips for implementing a successful quiet time routine AND rounds up products and activities that help make independent play more likely - even in young preschoolers. Check it out by clicking this image at the link in our bio!

#quiettime #parentingtoddlers #parentingpreschoolers #momoflittles #stayathomemom #stayathomeparent #activitiesforpreschoolers #activitiesfortoddlers #threeyearolds #fouryearolds #fiveyearolds #momlife #sahm #sahmlife
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Does solitude come naturally to your kids, or are moments of solo play far and few between? Meagan and Sarah read some research recently that challenged us to think about the importance of alone time, and whether our kids get enough. In this episode, we dive into our own childhood memories, how our children embrace (or run from) solitude, and how challenging it is to find that just-right balance. Join us! 

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
New episode! With all the day-to-day planning requ New episode! With all the day-to-day planning required to run a household, it's easy to put longterm planning on the back burner. Today Meagan and Sarah share lessons we've learned (or are still learning) that help us look ahead at a whole year, quarter, or month at a time. From knowing ourselves and our seasonal rhythms to figuring out where they keep next year's school calendar, we've picked up a few things over the years, and we're ready to dive in for 2023. Join us! 

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
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Shoutout to our NEW sponsors:
🍳 @caraway_home (10% off gorgeous, non-toxic cookware!)
💪 @futurefitapp (risk-free trial of 1-on-1 personal training!)
🔪 @prepdish (2 weeks free of healthy, prep-ahead meal plans!)
🎨 @minted (design marketplace with art, bags, gifts & more!)
📚 @chatbooks (deals on the easiest photo books ever!)
😍 @fabletics (2 stylish workout bottoms for $24!)

And welcome back . . . 
⭐️ @stitchfix ($20 off your 1st purchase!)
⭐️ @theessentialcalendar (10% off full-season calendars!)
⭐️ @hiyahealth (50% off 1st order!)
⭐️ @kiwico_inc (50% off your 1st mo!)
⭐️ @athleticgreens (1yr of Vit.D + 5 travel packs!)
⭐️ @vionicshoes (free shipping on cute, comfy shoes!)
Braces on, braces off. First phones, driver's ed, Braces on, braces off. First phones, driver's ed, high school registration. As we discussed in this week's episode, we still get all the feels when older kids meet cultural or developmental milestones - even if they cringe when we celebrate and share.

Would love to hear what you're celebrating about your older kids! Everything from learning a new skill to blossoming independence - leave us a comment! 

PS - Listen to the episode in your favorite podcast app, or by clicking this image at the link in our bio!

#parenting #parentingbigkids #parentingteens #parentingtweens #bigkidmilestone #teenagers #tweens #momoftweens #momofteens #momofteenagers
Turns out, when your last baby approaches double-d Turns out, when your last baby approaches double-digits, you find yourself staring a different milestone right in the (puffy) face:

It's been a decade since I was pregnant for the last time. 

This photo was taken the morning of my scheduled c-section, just a few hours before we'd meet our third and last babe. It's hard to remember, but I'm SURE I was ready to be done. Constant braxton-hicks, heartburn I hadn't experienced with the other two, food aversions that lasted the whole 39w5d, and physical exhaustion trying to keep up with a 2- and 4-year old: all part of an otherwise uncomplicated pregnancy, but still nobody's idea of easy.

I don't miss it - being pregnant. Grateful to have had the experience, absolutely. But I've never really pined for another go-around, at least not seriously. Still, a whole decade removed feels as significant a milestone to me as does the notion that that double-dimpled babe will blow out ten candles this weekend.

Time, like, whoa. 

-Sarah

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