u/Squacamole

We were in town for the 4th and visited the fan festival. Wanted to share our experience hoping it helps others. Note it was over 100 degrees and the festival was running shortened hours of 12-4p that day. Disclaimer that this was just our experience and might have been different because it was the 4th and there was a heat wave.

They did not check tickets to get in, but we had gotten them anyway.

There is very little shade, especially in the viewing areas. If its a hot day dress for the weather. Bring neck fans and cooling towels bc it can be brutal.

The FIFA store has AC (sort of) and we went through several times just for a break from the heat. It was the only place on the grounds with AC. They had a ton of world cup gear but we were a little disappointed they didn't have a good selection for each country. (Maybe it was sold out, or maybe we are in the minority wanting country specific gear. There were some things for the host countries USA/MEX/CAN.) Its a huge store though with tons of merch.

There are huge vendor tents set up for sponsors like Home Depot, Coke, Miller Lite, etc. They have activities and some giveaways. Go to those early. They all closed by half time...we didn't know and missed out on a bunch by waiting.

If you want the FIFA charm bracelet, get there early. I talked to the staff handling the line. They said they start giving out wait list tickets (think how Black Friday sales are done) at 10am and on this day, all tickets were given out by 11:15a. Those people then waited for the festival grounds to open at 12 to get in line for their bracelets. The heat was brutal so props to them for staying that long!

They have free water filling stations but heads up they only allow plastic bottles into the grounds. A bunch of people had brought metal refillable containers and got turned away at the gates. You can also buy a ~$5 bottle of water from one of the food vendors and just keep refilling it.

They did a good job with having tents with misters going for the heat that had lots of seating. Was just unfortunate that these weren't located where screens were so you couldn't watch the games there.

Tons of food vendors with lots of different choices. Little to no wait at any of them.

Lots of alcohol choices too. Pro tip - if its over 100 outside maybe skip the alcohol. We saw LOTS of people experiencing heat illness and helped a few, everyone we helped said they had been drinking alcohol not water.

Its a fun time and kid friendly. There is also a big playground inside the grounds.

Hope this helps someone. Its very fun and worth going to check it out, especially bc it is free to get in!

We are coming to town on the 4th with a bunch of teens in tow. Plans are to visit Big Boy at Navy Yard, then fanfest for the Canada vs Morocco game. We'd like to find a spot indoors for the France game that would allow under 21s but still has a lively atmosphere. Two of our crew are fluent French speakers so mixing with the France fans would be a huge bonus.

I am going to try to keep things a little vague. Daughter is 16yo. She is in a very intense college prep program in high school, think all AP classes (but its more intense than that). She loves her program. She is top of her class, straight A student.

She is very competitive and intense by nature. She is a perfectionist. She wants to graduate top of her class, and often goes above and beyond what her assignments require ... spending many many days/hours on homework and studying. It can become obsessive and it concerns me at times.

We (parents) don't ask this of her. We are very proud of her but we have had many chats telling her it would be OK to get a B, or miss an assignment, or take a break. We try to stress the idea of "its good enough, doesnt have to be perfect". She refuses.

By the end of each school year she is a ball of stress and extremely frazzled. I hate that for her. The months of April and May are me watching her fall apart and trying to be supportive but feeling like I am watching her drown.

One thing that we do ask of both of our kids (her brother is also in HS) is that they are engaged in at least one physically active *committed* activity outside of school. We don't want either of them just sitting around on screens all day. We have seen that without the commitment piece of it (a set schedule, someone else holding them accountable) they will both tend to just not continue.

Her brother doesn't complain about this requirement. He has accepted it and found something he enjoys. She does complain and wants to quit.

She has played a particular sport at the travel level since middle school. It is a year long commitment when you play for a travel team. Every year we have the same discussion when the sports year comes to an end. Do you want to continue? She says no. So we say: OK no problem, let's find another physically active commitment for you (could be any sport, karate, rock climbing, walking club, etc. As long as it gets you physically active.) She can never find anything else that interests her and then she says she just wants to have time away from having to be physically active. So far we have not dropped our requirement that she be involved in *something* active, so we eventually land on staying with the same sport. Because its what she knows, I guess.

We even discuss dropping down to the rec level in her current sport and she refuses because "she doesn't want to pretend she doesnt know how to play at a competitive level". Or "she doesnt want to play with the kids who dont know what they are doing". Just like school, her attitude is that if shes not the best on the team shes the worst. She doesnt seem to have the ability to just show up and give it 50% effort and enjoy it. If she isnt constantly improving and excelling it seems like its not worth it to her.

Its also very confusing because when she is at her sport practice and games, she is all smiles. Giggling with her team mates, cheering them on, loving the game. She talks stats and plays, strategy, studies her opponents. Her coaches always love her, she is friendly and a great teammate. Its very very confusing to watch someone having a great time and then later they insist no they actually hate it.

I see that she tends to isolate herself and hyper focus on stress and schoolwork without a forced commitment to break away from it. I think the activity does her good... get some fresh air, away from your laptop, get your body moving. I dont care if either of the kids are good at what they choose, I just want them to get away from the house and their rooms sometimes. If she does not have a forced commitment (i.e., part of a team where they are counting on her) she will not do it. She will not naturally take breaks. She will literally sit in her bed the entire day working. She will not go on walks with us or go to the gym... believe me we have tried.

She has a therapist. So do I. Therapy has been great for both of us.

We have both discussed this impasse with our respective therapists. Mine sided with me and said yes for her mental health she needs to get away from the school work and if a forced commitment is the only way she will do it, its worth signing her up. My daughter says her therapist said she should quit all outside activities and focus on school to lessen her stress.

I dont want to force her anymore but I worry so much for her. I just dont think quitting everything and focusing too much on school is good for her. We are not able to come to an agreement and she isn't going to be happy unless I tell her fine do whatever you want. She is a good kid. Should I just let this go? She seems to lack the ability to find balance in her life.

Anyone else been there with advice?