EVERYTHING
FOR YOUR FAMILY
Mother Knows
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OK, here’s the thing. If you’re going to your child’s outdoor sporting event and you want to avoid the sun, there are rules that apply to your umbrella. All right… there aren’t really any rules, but there should be. Here’s why. I’m typing this while seated in the baseball stadium at Loyola Marymount University where I’m watching my son take part in an all-day camp. It’s in the mid-90s and there is no shade in sight, except for that which I have created with my umbrella. I arrived early, lugging my stadium seat, cooler, laptop AND my umbrella because I knew it would be a long, hot day. I was first into the stands, first to set up camp. Now, a half-hour later, other umbrellaless parents have started to trickle in. Unprepared for the searing sun that will be beating down all day, they begin to search for shade. There is none. As I write this, I have three people seated either within or near my sphere of shade. In fact, the lady cuddled up right behind me is close enough to be reading this over my shoulder. The stadium seats 800 and all of the sudden I’m everyone’s new best friend. Frankly, I don’t want to be. While there are books for wedding etiquette and business etiquette, there has never been anything written on umbrella etiquette. So…here are my umbrella-friendly tips for those who don’t get it. Arrive early to claim your space. Scout your location to make sure your umbrella doesn’t block the view of any spectator who might sit in a spot where they would normally be able to see the entire field. Should you see an open spot next to someone who has already pitched their umbrella, be respectful of their space. It’s like the Homestead Act of 1862 when people could claim free land as long as they were first to arrive there. The first person already has the option on any land within the circumference of their umbrella. Nothing is worse than dueling umbrellas that are too close, causing spokes to pinch and poke at each other. Don’t assume that just because you make a joke about the heat or you’re burning to a crisp, that I will welcome you into my little oasis. Geez people, it’s my shade. I’m also trying to keep my cooler and laptop shaded and I don’t take kindly to sitting so close to strangers. There you have it: Umbrella Etiquette 101. Now, enjoy the game. Senior Writer Kimberly A. Porrazzo |
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