Ask:
How does everyone keep from over doing the after school activities and other commitments? I know it is important to do some of these things, but it can be hectic. We have really made it a priority this year to slow down and not over-schedule ourselves. So far things are working great. We are involved in church activities and I allow the kids one other activity each. DD is in gymnastics ans DS is in Cub Scouts. How do you all handle this?
Answer:
We do it by getting the kids to pick one activity each and we make sure it's an activity that doesn't have more than one practice or meeting a week.
We are also involved in our church but our church is also really into simplifying and spending more time with family so they only have Sunday night service once a month, and a once a month kid's program on a Thursday night that only lasts 1 hour. (The youth group meets weekly but I don't have teens yet.)
At the moment we aren't in any activities. I was thinking about keeping it this way during the school year and getting involved in lots of more activities in the summer when there is more time. This works for us because ds has some special needs and takes a long time to finish his school work in the evenings. So we keep the school year for school, and the summer for fun activities.
HTH
Answer:
I just run my kids all over. Luckily my boys all do the same activities. They are only little once, so I let them do whatever activites they want to. I just work a flexible job so that I can work around their activites. They keep up on their school work, so we allow as many activites as they can handle. It keeps them fit, involved, stimulated and busy. It also helps me work on my organizational skills
Answer:
I just recently simplified my ds's schedule...i gave up mom and me gymnastics with youngest ds...I had signed up older ds for swimming lessons...but then i thought with baseball season starting that is just too much running around for him and us along with cub scouts(non negotiable)
So...i am just finding that balance in my life for now...but it is so hard for me because when i see a class for my ds i just want to sign them up and then i end up hating running all over the place and ending up canceling them out of the class. I just feel like that they are going to miss something or this is something they would really enjoy
Answer:
Originally Posted by KathrynHannah
We do it by getting the kids to pick one activity each and we make sure it's an activity that doesn't have more than one practice or meeting a week.
HTH
I make my daughter (other daughter is too young to do any activities) do only one activity per season & then church choir & Sunday school.
I have decided to always say "let me check" before I agree to do anything. Additionally, I am picky about what I say yes to and have learned NOT to feel guilty. I insisted on having one family night where we are all home (not hard with their ages now, but later it'll be a live saver I hope).
I'd love to hear how other people do it!
Erica