Zone Athletics: Kids were great, but one parent gets a GRRR

For the last two days I have been out at the Academy of Sport in Narabeen watching KelpieBlossom and the rest of the school team compete in the Zone Athletics Carnival.

KelpieBlossom competed in the Junior Long Jump on Tues and the 9yrs 100m on Wed. She was really pleased with her results having achieved a PB in Long Jump (which was 45cm longer than her previous recorded jump) and a fourth in her 100m heat.

It was amazing to see all the talent out there - miniature future Olympians complete with Skins and Spikes. The kids all had a great time; KelpieBlossom enjoyed meeting kids from other schools and was sad when it was all over.

However, I am sorry to report that one Mum and I were not sad to see the back of one of our school parents. Cupcake Queen and I were the Team Managers for the day yesterday. This means we had to make sure that all the children were present and accounted for and that they got to their allotted events. Anyone who has ever tried to herd cats will know what sort of day we had...

We were particularly careful to ensure that the youngest members of the team, three of whom were only 7 years old, were accounted for and we tried to keep them close by to ensure an adult could walk them to their events. At one point just before the 8yrs 100m we asked these kids to stand near us ready to be taken to their event.

So, we were completely unimpressed when one father (of a 7yo) loudly proclaimed to all and sundry that his daughter couldn't possibly stand in the sun for that 5 minutes (it would sap her energy) and we were clearly inexperienced team managers. He then marched his daughter back to the stands somewhere.

Well, yes we were inexperienced. We'd never done this before. We had 75 kids to keep an eye on. This dad, rather than offering his obviously vast organisational experience, chose to sit on his butt and hurl insults. THEN when his daughter's race was called he walked her down there without bothering to let us know causing further angst while we searched for her.

There endeth the GRRRRRRR.