How do parents juggle multiple kids and sports

[Anonymous]

I have 3 kids and it has become so difficult with conflicts. I don’t even currently work but was planning to go back as my youngest is now in elementary. My oldest is starting high school and I don’t know how he will get to sports practice during the day in the summer.

[Anonymous]

We are professional circus ring masters. It's a constant juggling act but we make it work. We do have after school help 2-3 days a week that helps.

[Anonymous]

Carpool
Ride bikes
Some job flexibility to make things work when needed (you might not have this one if new to workforce)

If you'd worked the whole time, this would all be second hand. Lots of people manage. Not saying that to be rude, but to give you confidence it will be fine. It just feels overwhelming because you're not in that circuit or mindset.

[Anonymous]

2 kids 4 years apart, we both have always worked FT, and have earned flexibility. Oldest is now in college and managing 1 kid’s schedule is awesome.

[Anonymous]

We only gave two but DH is flexible to be done by 4:30 and I SAH. Carpools are essential if you have more kids than drivers because the kids will inevitably have practice at the same time same day in different parts of the county.

[Anonymous]

We have a nightmare scenario, two kids in two different locations 20min apart, same time practice every week. No carpool options at one location, I have to stay in the other location. Anyhow....I just take it week by week and work it out as we can. Sometimes someone is late or leaves early.

[Anonymous]

Only two kids so a kid per driver. Dh is done by 4/4:30 every day. No travel sports.

[Anonymous]

Single with two club playing tweens. My job is extremely flexible, so I work a lot from sidelines.

My kids both have phones and I drop them early when needed. If I’m not going to attend a game, I send a note to the coach in case there’s an emergency. Tournaments are rough because there are lots of games, but also easier to car pool.

For really rough conflicts (games at the same time in two states) I ask my family to help. I just wrote out their entire spring schedules for club and rec. I’ve got two conflicts. I will ask my family to take a child to one game while I go to the other.

[Anonymous]

3 kids and I don't work. DH comes home by 4:30 or 5 when needed- Covid and the acceptance of working from home made this easier. Lots of practices/activities do not start until 6. We divide and conquer, and luckily one kid has a carpool - the other does not. There could be times your older one has to be dropped off early or wait a little, make sure they have a phone. If there is a weekend conflict we ask grandparents, or get to know someone well on the team where you can drop a kid off at that person's house early and have someone else take.

With so many appointments and activities and days off for three kids, I feel it would be hard for me to work, but I know many do and make it work. I think the key that at least you or your spouse need to end your day early, even if means logging back into work later night (that is what DH does).

[Anonymous]

Hire help. What did you expect when you had multiple kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have 3 kids and it has become so difficult with conflicts. I don’t even currently work but was planning to go back as my youngest is now in elementary. My oldest is starting high school and I don’t know how he will get to sports practice during the day in the summer.

You hire help or you stay home and drive them? If you aren't working why can't you drive them? Who doe it now?

[Anonymous]

Carpool
Keep all activities local to your town
If traveling for sport, one parent stays home to shlep other kids to their activities
Hire a college kid home for summer to drop off/pick up

[Anonymous]

I was just venting about this to my friend. I work during the day while the kids are in school and then I don't even really look forward to evening - where I am juggling 3 kids to some kind of activity every night.

My husband and I divide and conquer and we carpool, is how we get by.

[Anonymous]

You should take a long vacation

[Anonymous]

3 kids, two tween and elementary schooler. I signed them all up for the same sports when they were young and they stuck. Practices are at same places and times overall. This is as good as it gets.