Double Trouble at the Giants Game - Two Preschoolers & Baseball

When my husband informed me that he got tickets for the family for two baseball games this summer, I thought he lost his mind. Last year he did take the boys to the San Jose Giants game, with moderate success ... but were my three and a half year old, and my almost five year old ready for a pro game in something other than a one on one situation (one parent, one child ... the other parent and child stay home).

Recently we have seen a huge interest in sports from Caleb, especially hockey. He has taken to watching the Stanley Cup Playoff games on television ... and Jonathan did take him one on one to a playoff game. But I kept imagining the two sweet little tykes ganging up on us, and getting lost or into some big mischief.

The game we took them to last Sunday was during Little League Day, and they were giving out batting helmets. Did we need free batting helmets? Apparently we did, Jonathan got us to game two hours before it started. As we entered the sunny PacBell Park, the ticket person said, looking at our fair three-year old, "I hope you brought sunscreen."

Parent guilt ... we didn't bring sunscreen. However, with only a minor cramp in my arm, I managed to keep Caleb shaded all day.

To compound the potential issues with two tykes at the game ... it wasn't a very good game. The Giants lost and Sanchez takes a lot of time between pitches, so it was also a long game ...

But to my surprise the boys were great. They had a wonderful time, they can't wait to go back to our next game in August.  Although Caleb still prefers hockey right now ... but he wore his Giants t-shirt to bed and school the next day.

We also invested in some good strategies for enjoying the game. We surprised the boys with a toy each ... and a stuffed animal. We let them eat junk food including popcorn, and a sweet soda. We road the slide, they got to meet the Giants mascot the Seal, and we ate lunch out of the stands ... A happy, fairly stress free day for all involved.