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What other parents judge you for at games, and why you should care about two of them.

7 min read

An Australian parent stands at a community football sideline holding a thermos, watching the game intently. Other parents are scattered nearby in the soft-focused background. The parent's expression is settled and observing.

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You arrived five minutes late to the game. Your kid was wearing yesterday's mismatched socks. You did not bring a chair and have been leaning awkwardly against the fence for the last hour. You are mostly sure another parent looked at you twice and you are about ninety percent sure they were judging you for one of the above.

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