DS2 has soccer practice twice a week at a huge sports park with no playground and horrible parking. I do feel comfortable leaving him at practice because I know the coach really well. Still, he is only 9 so it does make me a little nervous. But actually I'm asking about pickup and drop off. At issue is that the practice is held in the middle of the complex. To take my little kids with me means lugging my giant double stroller with me in and out of the car four times for each practice day. I'm trying to avoid that! It is hard to find parking and then a long walk to the field. I have to navigate around different teams' practice fields and then the practices routinely run over so it takes longer than I'd like.
What do you think is safer for my 2.5 and nearly 5yo?
a. Leave the kids home with 12yo DS1. The longest I'd be gone is 30 minutes each for drop off and pickup.
b. Bring everyone with me but leave them in the car with DS1, parked in the parking lot but sort of far from where I actually am. I CAN see them but it would be a significant jog to get to them and intervene. DS3 (the 5yo) can get out of his car seat now!
I like having them in the car because I feel like they are closer and I don't like being separated from them for so long. All the kids prefer to stay at home. I've brought one kid with me before but my kids are crazy active and it is HARD. They don't sit, usually have tantrums. Yeah. I hate this part of my day. DS1 never did sports and I didn't realize how lucky I was in some respects although I absolutely LOVE what soccer does for DS2! Last year they practiced in a small park and it was no issue whatsoever. I just stayed at the park with all the kids and it was fun.
TIA!