Personal/Family/Football Dilemna - - HELP!

[jon_nyaz]

I have two season tickets on the 50 yard line. I very rarely miss games. I also have two kids. A 9 year old girl and a 5 1/2 year old girl. They love their daddy but they don't love football - - yet. They are definitely girlie-girls in every sense, which is good. Here's my dilemna...

My wife is working all day today and ALL my regular babysitters are unavailable. This leaves me with the following choices (as far as I can tell):

1 - Stay home and watch other games on Sunday Ticket and listen to the Cards on the radio (at least until they get blown out and I can't take it anymore).

2 - Take the girls with me, buy an extra ticket at the game and have my youngest sit on my lap so we can all sit together.

The negatives with #1 are that I miss the game live and waste the tickets.

The negatives with #2 are that the girls hate it and want to leave and now I've wasted three tickets (and just my luck the Cards would be kicking the Ravens' ass in that scenario). Or, the fans around me are rowdy as hell and I have to leave to protect my daughters and I've wasted three tickets. Or the game utterly sucks because the Cards are getting killed and I want to go vomit somewhere and I can't.

Any ideas?

 

[Pariah]

I'd listen on the radio, but that's just me. I hate having distractions when watching the game.

 

[Cardinals.Ken]

What a crappy situation!

Having a daughter myself, I can say from experience that taking them to the game would take you out of "fan" mode, and place you into "parent" mode.

Personally, I would sell/eat the tickets and spend the day with the kids at home.

 

[ajcardfan]

Take the girls.

I've got two "girlie-girls" as well. They know nothing about football, but they do enjoy doing something with their Dad. Buy them some candy, a soda and enjoy sharing your passion for the Cardinals with them. You won't regret it. So what if you miss a few plays here and there? Before you know it, they'll be gone and opportunities to spend time with them will be gone too.

 

[arthurracoon]

I agree with ajcardfan...

take the girls to the game and get them what they want.

Let them enjoy while you enjoy watching the Cards thrash the Ravens

 

[ChiCard]

Forget the game and spend the day doing what they want to do. It's only one game, and in the long run, they'll love you more for the effort.

I've always felt that you can take the most $ you've ever made, the most fun you've ever had, and the most professional success and put them all together and they don't come close to the feeling you get when your children look at you and say "I love you Dad".

 

[jon_nyaz]

I decided to ask them directly if they wanted to go to the game with me. My oldest's two questions were, "What kind of food do they have there?" and "What if I get bored?". Then she suggested that I call her least favorite babysitter. Yikes! She'd rather hang out here with her least favorite babysitter than come with me to the game??? I think I'm going to stay home with them guys! I'll take them another time when my wife can come too and we can make it an entire family event.

Thanks for all the advise! I appreciate it!

 

[arthurracoon]

Good choice. If they dislike football that much, you don't want to subject them to such torture.

 

[JeffGollin]

Take the girls, but bring with you things that will keep them occupied should they get bored and antsy.

Also - see if there's any side-show stuff going on that might pique their interest - like Birdman or other weird guys in Superhero garb or face-paint. Or the Cardinal mascot - Big Red. Or the cheerleaders. Or other girls in the stands (preferably those who are cheering the loudest).

And always, always follow the Gollin Family Rule for All Outings -

Never never never pass up any opportunity to hit the rest rooms. (Do it early and often so that you don't get caught staring at the Ladies Room Door at the precise moment Damien Anderson is breaking off an 80 yard run to tie the score late in the game).

 

[Crimson Warrior]

try to ply them SDS cuisine if they get rowdy. My wife and I are currently childless, but the food distractions should be worth at least 10 or fifteen minutes. Plus, they will have less energy with a full belly. Correct?