Essay by

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After weeks of messages on Tinder, my future husband and I arranged to meet face to face. Just before our meeting he asked whether I enjoyed baseball. I admitted I knew little about the game yet agreed to watch one with him. That conversation took place twelve years ago.

Since then we have married three times, welcomed three children, and shared countless baseball games.

My husband, a devoted Pirates supporter, hoped our children would grow to love the sport as well. A family visit to New York City seemed like an ideal introduction to Major League Baseball through a Mets contest at Citi Field. Everyone had a wonderful time.

Our children had already attended minor-league games

Following the arrival of our twins we relocated from Brooklyn to Maine seeking a calmer lifestyle. Moving from a sports-loving city to one featuring only minor-league clubs required adjustment.

Because tickets remain affordable we have taken our three children to several games since they were young. They enjoy cheering for the Portland Sea Dogs, spotting the mascot Slugger, and sampling reasonably priced treats.

Our local ballpark is compact, convenient, and welcoming to families. Even so, after six years in Maine I found myself missing the energy of a larger venue such as Citi Field.

We chose a Mets family Sunday game

While visiting New York to see friends we added a stop at Citi Field. The Mets schedule family Sunday games, and the date we selected coincided with Toy Story 5 day, which aligned perfectly after we had just watched the film.

Upon entering the stadium each child received a bucket hat decorated with characters from the movie. The hats proved useful because our seats for the 1:40 p.m. start were in direct sunlight and I feared the heat would become uncomfortable.

Many young families surrounded us, easing my concerns about supervising the children. We stopped by the kids club where each received a lanyard and stickers. An upgraded lanyard costing fifty dollars offered VIP entry to a base run with Mr. and Mrs. Met plus additional items, yet we declined as the expense seemed unnecessary. A small air-conditioned space allowed coloring and play, though our eight-, six-, and six-year-olds felt they had outgrown it.

The entire group stayed engaged

Lounge access proved essential with young children. We arrived more than an hour early and headed to the Clover Lounge for lunch. One serving of chicken nuggets, two empanadas, one burger, and one sandwich totaled eighty-one dollars, which matched typical stadium pricing. The food tasted excellent.

We had hoped to tour more of the ballpark, yet after finishing our meal and visiting the kids club it was already time for the first pitch, so we hurried back to our seats.

The children remained interested in the game itself, which included a Mets home run that triggered the apple display, as well as searching for Mr. and Mrs. Met and watching between-inning activities on the field.

Midway through we paused again for ice cream served in baseball helmets and a chance to cool off.

The day will become a lasting family memory

I was struck by how enjoyable the afternoon felt when I recalled that we had brought our son to a Mets game as an infant in 2019. A heat wave was underway and I had recently learned I was pregnant with twins. Hours before departure I began bleeding. My husband suggested staying home, yet I preferred to stay occupied at the game rather than wait anxiously at home. Nearly seven years later we returned with our twin daughters as a family of five.

The Mets fell short and we departed before crowds filled the surrounding streets. A security guard paused our children to offer extra stickers and high-fives.

On the ride home I asked what each had enjoyed most. They all answered the same: everything.