Extracurriculars you regret supporting

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ski racing, because of the cost and all of the winter weekends away when my kids could have been socializing with kids from school. And it was really DH pushing it. But all of our kids are awesome skiers.

Were in ski racing and omg the costa are endless. Two sets of skis a year, racing helmet, body glove, prescription goggles, just found out about season tuning program; lift pass, lodging, coaching program, association fees and race entry fees plus fuel and food when away it’s like $15K for a 14 week season and that’s only 2-3 days a weekend. More if you do Colorado in the fall and spring/Argentina in summer.

[Anonymous]

Fencing coaches were tremendous a-holes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:gymnastics

Care to elaborate on the reasons why? Too much time and money?

You peak in gymnastics by your teen years. So unless you are at a very high level at age 14-15, you wasted your time and money. Which means you are spending your childhood pursuing a sport that requires intense training and will likely stunt your growth. No thanks.

The perfect 10, Nadia Comăneci, was 14 years olds when she won Olympic gold. Simone Biles is 4'8". I would not want either of those things for my daughters. And then there are he terrible injuries and endless surgeries you don't hear about...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not one mention of football.

Few pursue that sport in educated urban areas. It's a terribly ugly and dangerous sport. We neither watch it, nor allow our DCs to play it. We have zero friends with kids in football. You have to be huge physically too (usually overweight) and willing to damage your brain.

[Anonymous]

I regret cheer- the make-up and outfits at 7 were awful. The culture was terrible. I wanted to let me daughter chose but I should have taken this option off the table.

[Anonymous]

regret: leaving fencing during the pandemic (we lived elsewhere, in a nontoxic environment), science olympiad for elementary school (too much involvement from me)

yes to: chess club at school, science olympiad for middle school (although I kind of hope none of my other kids besides current one does it - time consuming including for me), cub/Boy Scouts [low key and fun activities I would never do, we have no-fundraising troops], math team. robotics [elsewhere - seems to be missing here]. just letting my kids use the peloton for exercise...

would not: Girl Scouts - great org, cannot get behind the fundraising part, I'm really uninterested in that.

[Anonymous]

Karate!!
What a money pit.
My kids have their “junior black belts” - whatever that means. They are finally done but I look back and wonder what I was thinking

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Karate!!
What a money pit.
My kids have their “junior black belts” - whatever that means. They are finally done but I look back and wonder what I was thinking

+1. These karate/taekwondo academies are a scam. Total money pit. But god my DD loves it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:regret: leaving fencing during the pandemic (we lived elsewhere, in a nontoxic environment), science olympiad for elementary school (too much involvement from me)

yes to: chess club at school, science olympiad for middle school (although I kind of hope none of my other kids besides current one does it - time consuming including for me), cub/Boy Scouts [low key and fun activities I would never do, we have no-fundraising troops], math team. robotics [elsewhere - seems to be missing here]. just letting my kids use the peloton for exercise...

would not: Girl Scouts - great org, cannot get behind the fundraising part, I'm really uninterested in that.

+1
I thought I didn't have anything for this list until you reminded me. Totally regret kid signing up for this in elementary. It was a team with a "winning record." I didn't realize I was signing up my 10 yo to get berated by the head coach when he gave his regular "pep talks" to the whole team.

[Anonymous]

I was a competitive synchronized swimmer. I have life king body and issues with food and weight. Do not recommend unless as a parent you are watching like a hawk Afro Coach bullying. My brother played rec soccer and guitar and now he runs and plays guitar for fun. At least I can swim now for health but I have a love hate relationship with it and my body. I’m grateful for the sacrifices that my parents made but in his side I wish they had known to intervene or speak up. Oh well life lessons. My best friend plays tennis as an adult and seems happy.

My son loves martial arts and it’s been great for him, yes there are scam school but find a real one-/ my son is a blue belt in ju jitsu. It’s as much physical as mental. Bullying is not tolerated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Karate!!
What a money pit.
My kids have their “junior black belts” - whatever that means. They are finally done but I look back and wonder what I was thinking

+1. These karate/taekwondo academies are a scam. Total money pit. But god my DD loves it!

My kid loved karate more than any other activity. It laid the groundwork for an exercise routine that he’s kept up throughout college. Worth it if only for that. But I’m pretty sure he couldn’t fight anyone IRL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Karate!!
What a money pit.
My kids have their “junior black belts” - whatever that means. They are finally done but I look back and wonder what I was thinking

+1. These karate/taekwondo academies are a scam. Total money pit. But god my DD loves it!

It depends on what you mean by scam. My DS has a black belt in tkd. In no way, shape, or form is he some sort of martial arts expert. But he loves it, has a great community, and gets some good exercise. So I'm happy he's there, even if I role my eyes at the belts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not one mention of football.

Few pursue that sport in educated urban areas. It's a terribly ugly and dangerous sport. We neither watch it, nor allow our DCs to play it. We have zero friends with kids in football. You have to be huge physically too (usually overweight) and willing to damage your brain.

This is the absolute dumbest thing I've ever read. As if the academically elite private schools don't have football programs.

Nobody has mentioned football in this thread because generally, the people that enroll their kids in youth football don't regret. They are by and large, good programs

[Anonymous]

No one has mentioned crew? Huge money and time commitment. Lot of hyper competitive parents thinking that it’s their kid’s route to an Ivy and spending all kinds of money on camps and team fundraising. Mediocre coaching. And let’s face it - not a super transferable skill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not one mention of football.

Few pursue that sport in educated urban areas. It's a terribly ugly and dangerous sport. We neither watch it, nor allow our DCs to play it. We have zero friends with kids in football. You have to be huge physically too (usually overweight) and willing to damage your brain.

I have seen research that tackle under age 13 is bad. I have seen research done on pro football players, who play for year, about CTE. I have not seen anything that says playing a couple years of high school football is worse than other contact sports. If you have, please share.