SouthCoast Parents Feel the Pressure of Sign-Ups

It's not even March and if you have summer on the brain, you're not alone. For parents, however, it's not all sunshine and rainbows.

Sign-up culture is insane. As a parent of a five-year-old and three-year-old, I'm quickly learning that getting the kids involved in extracurricular activities is hectic and stress-inducing.

It's not the activities themselves, it's the process in signing up – if you can.

Get our free mobile app

So far we've done soccer and basketball, and as my son sees his friends take part in other sports and after-school fun, his interest is piqued and he asks to try more. I love that! However, I'm realizing I need to log in and register immediately.

This happened just the other day when I noticed a spring session open up, tried to sign him up the next morning and was shocked by the word "waitlist" after registering. Waitlisted? Already? The queue hadn't been open a full 24 hours at that point.

Now I know there needs to be a max number of participants depending on staffing, but the rush to sign-up is added pressure I do not need right now. I'm already scrambling around researching summer camps and activities and it's not even March.

The best thing I can compare it to is grocery deliveries during COVID. Go with me on this. I remember waking up in the middle of the night during the pandemic to secure a Peapod delivery time before they all booked up.

You may have it down, and if so, bravo. To the rest of you like myself, best of luck and may the odds be ever in your favor.