After watching the Blue Jays triumph over the Seattle Mariners in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series, Suzanne Jangda, a dedicated Blue Jays fan, and her two children faced a challenging morning as they arrived late to school due to staying up late. Jangda, determined to pass on her love for the Blue Jays to her kids, anticipated more late nights ahead for the ongoing series.
The previous game on Wednesday had kept them up until the fifth inning, well past their usual bedtime, to witness George Springer’s home run. Despite the extended game times impacting their routine, Jangda believed these unique experiences should be embraced whenever possible.
By Thursday evening, Jangda acknowledged that her kids needed to catch up on rest after their late nights. She decided to watch the next game with friends at a bar, allowing her children to go to bed at their regular time of 8 p.m., without her presence to keep them engaged in the game.
Many parents, like Jangda, were juggling the excitement of supporting the Blue Jays as a family with the consequences of tiredness during the day. Lisa Fujimoto, a mother and elementary school teacher in Toronto, shared similar experiences with her own children, adjusting bedtime routines during playoff games to ensure a balance between enjoyment and rest.
Parents implementing strategies such as completing homework before the game, ensuring lights out immediately after, and utilizing breaks in the game to prepare for bedtime found success in managing their children’s late-night baseball enthusiasm. Fujimoto highlighted the importance of recognizing individual children’s needs and adjusting schedules accordingly.
While some children may show signs of fatigue from late-night games, others find the excitement of the playoffs stimulating. Elisha Muskat, a parent, described her son’s obsession with the series but maintained his regular bedtime routine, providing updates on the game as he drifted off to sleep.
As families navigated the late-night playoff games, decisions on bedtime were often determined by the game’s progress and importance. Jangda planned to allow her kids to watch an earlier game on Friday, aiming to create lasting memories similar to her own experiences watching the Blue Jays win the World Series in 1992.
The balance between supporting the Blue Jays and ensuring rest for school-aged children remained a common challenge for many families during the thrilling playoff season.