Loading ...bringing the kids
People at tournaments are always asking about my kids. There’s one top player whose greeting is always: “HiStacyhowarethechildren?” I’m generally happy to gush about the cherubs, they’re fantastic people and I’m absolutely nuts about them. I’ll jump at any excuse to whip out my phone and show you some recent photos or tell you the anecdote of the day. Really, I could go on and on (and on) about them — I usually do. What I don’t do any more, except in the rarest of circumstances, is bring them along to tournaments.
It’s a decision we made long ago and continually reaffirm, but recently I received a letter from Donna Compton (the hero of bridge-playing young parents across America) letting me know that, because of a policy of the Hilton Las Vegas, there will be no organized childcare this summer at the Nationals in Las Vegas.
Bridge is, in our household, an adult pursuit. Neither George nor I came from bridge families; our parents all played kitchen bridge (and still do), but we each came to the game as adults. Our elder child has shown no interest in the game at all; she prefers to spend the bulk of her time upside down and out of doors. The younger one has some interest which I monitor very carefully; one day she may have some entertaining stories to tell.
We have the luxury of deciding to keep the children away from bridge; for many of our friends and acquaintances that’s not an option. For those people, Donna Compton and the childcare program she built for the league have made all the difference. The children made lasting friends under the care and supervision of a great team of regular caregivers, we did too. I can’t say enough good about the childcare program — it was there when we needed it, and I’m discouraged to hear it won’t be available at the Summer NABC.
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