Together Racing
Last night I watched the Formula One race from Miami, but it just wasn't the same. This is the first year I have got a subscription to watch the races and it has been really enjoyable up until now, and despite the action being good - something was missing.
My daughter.
Being in the US for this instalment, the race time was after my daughter's bedtime and after my wife went to bed, so I watched the race alone. And just like a good meal, it wasn't as good when it isn't shared with someone. And to my surprise, my daughter has really enjoyed the racing so far, learning all the drivers, asking about the rules and what is going on, and recalling instances from past GPs, including overtaking manoeuvres by specific drivers. But the best thing about watching with her is,
She gets so excited and her eyes light up!
This race weekend had two races, the main GP and a Sprint Race. We watched the qualifying for the Sprint as a replay and then the race live, as it was a bit earlier on Saturday. And then yesterday, because the qualifying for the main race was late, we watched it as a replay and I asked if she wanted to watch the highlights, or the whole qualifying. At first she said highlights, until she found out that it was less than ten minutes of action - so she changed her mind to watch the whole qualifying. And despite it not being the race, she gets into it also.
When she comes home from school today (and after she has done her homework) we will watch the race together and despite me already seeing it, I am well looking forward to it. In fact, it might be better this way in some respects, because she has so many questions that I am unable to concentrate on getting the information I need to answer them, so it frustrates her (and me). This way, I already know what is going to happen, and don't have to listen into the commentary for the nuances.
Still, it is going to be like eating a great meal eaten alone, and then sharing the leftovers. It is much better to experience something like this for the first time together, as it is a purely consumptive experience. This means that the creative experience, the shared experience, is the reactions together, and the post-reaction discussion between us, as we process what we have seen.
I really enjoy spending time with Smallsteps and while I am normally not a big fan of spending time together while watching something, we don't do it very often, as normally the time we spend together is quite active and creative. I think if the only time we shared experience was in front of a screen, it wouldn't be that great or very special at all.
I don't know how long she will be interested in watching these with me, but for now it is nice to have a relatively regular "thing" we can look forward to and enjoy together. And while my wife likes to watch with us from time to time, it also gives her the option to do something else for herself instead. While it is a pity that isn't cleaning the house, it is good that she has some additional space also.
Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]
Basketball has also lost something to me after my dad died. I still watch it and I still enjoy it but after my dad died I only went to watch basketball in the Arena a handful of times.
Do you have anyone else to share the experience with? It might be a decent way to keep the connection with your father alive, by sharing it with someone else.
Not really. My mother doesn't watch basketball. I have no siblings and with most of my facebook friends I have not spoken in decades.
I wonder if there is a local supporters group that hangs out for the games. It is nice to connect with people who are into the same kind of things.
I used to enjoy watching motorsports. In recent years, I haven't watched a single race. I don't even know who is better. Mika Häkkinen used to be very popular. He was probably the pioneer in popularizing motorsports in Finland.
Motorsport has always been big here, as there have been Finns in F1 for years, and also in rally. However, once it went to a pay model, it has largely died.
You remind me of the opening moments in the lives of some great women drivers in the film Right on Track (2003). Based on the true story of the Enders-Stevens sisters. Perhaps, being a racing enthusiast, you have heard of Erica Enders-Stevens.
Spending time with your children and having them identify with your activities is important to keep, but I think like you, with age, your children may develop their own tastes and you become a third or fourth priority. That's why it's important to make the most of those moments now.
I'm glad you are overcoming your health problems. Fraternal greetings from another hemisphere.
Never heard of her. I don't follow much motorsport other than F1.
I'd be surprised if her interest in this lasts the season. I am looking forward to her diving more into her own interest areas.
I never really got into drag racing. My brothers liked it, but I found it a bit silly.
Eating alone without family can be boring, particularly when you are so used to them eating together. Maybe your meal often goes along with chat and some tissing, you know. You might miss all those things.
Sport is cool, but there are times our spirit might not go with it. Maybe due to one reason or the other, or better still, their performance was a bit under expectations.
I think it is a cultural thing these days. I know lots of families that rarely eat together and I think it is a shame.
I agree with you. Eating together fosters unity and cooperation.
last night i was watching a youtuber named mr. beast. my son sometimes comes to my room to watch youtube videos together. you are right, it is more interesting to watch together.
Mr Beast? :D
Yes, yesterday I watched 2 videos and I'm a little tired :)
I have never seen him, other than a picture somewhere. I tend not to watch that kind of stuff. The only time I use youtube is to look at DIY or to show Smallsteps something we are talking about, like an animal or a dancer.
We have a local track near where I live. It's just a circle thing, not a grand prix style, but I can remember going to the track with my dad and my uncle and cousin to watch the races. I have been meaning to take my wife there some Friday night when they are having races, but it seems we are always too busy!
I think you should go - it would be bit of a fun night out. There is a trots track near us (horse racing with buggies? - not sure what it is called in the US) and while I care nothing for it, I would like to go as a family for the experience - though because my wife also cares nothing for it, we haven't gone.
I think they call it harness racing over here. There used to be a track about an hour away from us, but they shut it down a long time ago.
Having someone to share deep connections with is something all humans seem to be wired towards. Isn't it...
I think we are evolved for it.
Anytime you can get your child interested in something you like is a win. As they age they become interested in other things so maybe she will drift away from watching for a time. If she has developed a love for the sport or a fascination with it, she may come back after awhile and resume the interest. I think it's great that she loves to spend time with you, probably because you're a good dad lol
She might not be interested for long, but at least she will have some kind of understanding to fake it to keep me happy later - so when she asks for the car keys... :D
lol don't blink! It comes faster than you could imagine ;-)
We watched some football games together with Lily. She doesn't quite understand the rules, but was every excited (she doesn't get a lot of TV, so whatever is awesome). It was a great time for my brother, her and me, lying on the bed and watch Champions Leauge. It's definitely not as much fun alone
That is cool.
It reminded me of watching world cup games in 2018, and Smallsteps had watched a few games with me - she was just under two. She was re-enacting what she was watching. However, the only thing she really saw well were the replays, and they were of the dives - so whenever she was playing football outside, she spent most of the time on the ground rolling around :D
Lol that's really funny :-D :-D