Summertime Shuffle Families Scramble To Keep Up With Kids’ Summer Sports Activities - And Love It

The baseball mom, her uniform-clad son in tow, walked up to the counter of a local fast-food restaurant at 8:30 p.m. on a June evening to place an order.

“The game ran long,” she said, almost apologetically. “No time for a home-cooked meal tonight.”

It was a scene that repeats itself nightly throughout the summer for thousands of families during youth baseball and softball seasons. Normal family life takes a back seat while evening schedules revolve around a variety of sports activities.

How do Valley families like Dale and Ann Schnibbe and their three children do it?

“Ann keeps the schedule, points me in the right direction and tells me where I’m supposed to be,” said Dale. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

For the Schnibbes, and for the hundreds of other Valley families involved in youth athletic programs, the summer sports season is part of a year-around cycle that offers only a brief window in August to recuperate from the hectic pace and perhaps squeeze in a family vacation before school begins.

This summer, 13-year-old Eric is playing baseball on two teams, which takes up at least four nights per week.

Tonya, 9, who plays softball, and Jacob, 7, who plays baseball, both have games on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Their father, a local optometrist, coaches or helps coach all three youngsters.

On a Monday or Wednesday, the whole family attends Eric’s games. Tuesdays and Thursdays Dale and Ann take turns transporting and watching Tonya and Jacob, while Eric fends for himself.

“(Eric) has some really good friends on the team,” said Ann, “so transportation is not a problem most of the time.”

Mealtime can be hectic. Ann, who works half days at a bank, does her best to feed the clan at home as often as possible, although dinner often is served after a game at 8:30 or 9 p.m.

Sometimes, however, it’s easier to eat out. “We’re season ticket holders to McDonald’s,” Dale joked.

Some might consider this insanity. Those involved say it’s worthwhile.

“Sure it makes the home life crazy because we’re never there,” said Ann. “But it’s important. We decided to have kids and want to be part of their lives.”

Valley psychologist Pat Lipp of North Pines Counseling, said there are a lot of positive aspects to this sort of family involvement, whether it is centered around sports or other activities.

“My opinion is it’s real good to expose children to everything, then set the stage by doing things,” he said. “That’s where self-esteem comes from.”

The children he sees, said Lipp, are from families who do too little, not too much.

“I’d rather we err on the side of parents to be involved,” he said.

The Schnibbes agree.

“It’s something the kids want to do, you allow them to make choices and you’re there with them because it’s important,” Ann said.

“As far as kids go, they learn to get along with other people,” said Dale, who stresses sportsmanship more than winning to the youngsters he coaches. “For me, the reason I enjoy it is I get to know every one of my kids’ friends.”

“I don’t think I’ve missed out on anything,” Ann said. “If there’s ever a time the kids decide they don’t want to do this, that would be fine.”

Meanwhile, the Schnibbes and others parents shuttle their youngsters to multiple games and practices throughout June and July. Ann said the time she has devoted to her kids’ sports activities is a sacrifice she would gladly make again.

“But the first two weeks of August are heaven, aren’t they?”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 2 Photos (1 color)