All parents need to be commended when they give up their time and energies to sit through their children's sports tournaments. I had good reason to think about this earlier this month when my daughter's softball team had a tournament. The temperatures sored near 90 and the dust rolled in (hadn't had any rain in awhile). I reflected back a how good natured my own parents were when sitting through sports tournaments that my brother and I participated in.

At the kick off of all these tournaments, the kids are totally excited and there is almost a 'fair' attitude. And why should it be otherwise? Brightly colored t-shirts or sometimes full uniforms dot the landscape. And while it may drain your wallet, the cash you put out for hot dogs and soda pop seems to be part of the experience.

If you want to save some of that cash, bring a cooler. That's my second tip. Always bring a full cooler and a koozie or two. Fresh fruit, cheese sticks and nuts make great snacks for athletes and their fans. Even if you think your team will not survive to the finals, take along enough drinks and snacks to last the entire day. If your team is eliminated early in the day, you still have enough supplies to have a little party. It's OK to celebrate finishing in fifth place.

For my third tip, be prepared for weather of all kinds. Even if the weather man predicts a sunny day, be ready for rain. Take that rain coat and umbrella. And if they say it's going to be cloudy and rainy, take the sunscreen. Heat can be a big problem, so if you have a little battery powered fan, take it along. And be sure to put some wet rags in the cooler to help your ball player cool off in between games. Keep re-applying that sunscreen rain or shine!

Even in the most exciting tournaments, there is often a bit of down-time in between games, and siblings that are forced to spend the day at the ball park can get bored really easily. You guessed it, the fourth tip is to be sure to bring along stuff for everyone to do. MP3 players, travel games, magazines, even a deck of cards can help everyone chill out a bit and enjoy some free moments. Another idea for keeping siblings entertained is to download score sheets and give them the job of keeping score during the games.

At the day's end - even if victorious, your kids will tired and dirty and you'll fare no better. Plan ahead so the kids get fed quickly and cleaned. One tactic we use is to pick up some of our favorite food like pizza on the way home. Then I tell my kids that they can't have any pizza until they've cleaned up - that makes the cleaning go fast! Once my children are clean and fed I can relax. Whether it's soaking in a bubble bath or a quick shower and reading a favorite book or watching a classic movie, it's my reward to me as a parent!