My kids are in MS - are all the enrichment activities worth it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is so frightening. You don;t have to be an athlete to go to college, even a good college. You don;t have to have your parents push you from the age of 11 to go into certain sports and activities because it will one day maybe look good to a college. In fact doing so has costs. Raising children is not a competitive sport. There are many excellent colleges out there and your child will go to one. They are more likely to do so without mental illness if you call off the dogs. I have one in college now and I've seen the damage on these kids.

Honestly, I think its pretty sick to even be asking how to get your middle schooler into college. And to worry about their lack of athleticism or whatever. You folks need to step back and examine what you are doing and consider letting your kids choose their own activities for the sheer joy of doing them. They don;t get these years back.

My niece took tons of AP's had great grades and SAT scores, but mediocre activities. She is now at University of Portland. Some of us are hoping for more options.

Where else did she apply?

Stanford, Berkely (which she knew were long shots), and a bunch of California schools where on paper at least, she had the stats to get in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP Here: I have my kids in all these extra-curriculars. Driving them around here and there. Stressing out on having to balance it all. As you escalate in these skills it gets harder and harder. The level of competition can be overwhelming. It would be great if they can achieve it for themselves but it sounds like it will come to a head in high school on what things they should pursue or not based on responses to this thread. I want them to have good skills in life too not just for college. When I grew up I didn't have the chance to experience all that kids have these days. Maybe I would have been a better person to have more passions in my life to reach for in times of stress.

Have you ever heard of "overcorrecting"? Just a thought.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP Here: I have my kids in all these extra-curriculars. Driving them around here and there. Stressing out on having to balance it all. As you escalate in these skills it gets harder and harder. The level of competition can be overwhelming. It would be great if they can achieve it for themselves but it sounds like it will come to a head in high school on what things they should pursue or not based on responses to this thread. I want them to have good skills in life too not just for college. When I grew up I didn't have the chance to experience all that kids have these days. Maybe I would have been a better person to have more passions in my life to reach for in times of stress.

Have you ever heard of "overcorrecting"? Just a thought.

No I married an overachiever. My DH is very into all of this and feels it will benefit the kids.

[Anonymous]

Yes. Eagle Scout, church youth choir (7 years, 5 as soloist), piano, pee wee leagues through V football and V basketball, sports editor, president math club, principal actor all elementary, middle and high school plays and senior class president. Stanford grad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe I would have been a better person to have more passions in my life to reach for in times of stress.

I don't think "more passions" are what kids need these days to deal with times of stress. I mean, it's great if they find their own passions. But for that they also need downtime. They need time to play and read and roam around and be bored. They need fewer scheduled activities and more opportunities to "schedule" their own activities.

I'd be looking at how much free time they have at home, just to be themselves and spend time with friends and siblings. Honestly, I think that gives them a huge edge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP Here: I have my kids in all these extra-curriculars. Driving them around here and there. Stressing out on having to balance it all. As you escalate in these skills it gets harder and harder. The level of competition can be overwhelming. It would be great if they can achieve it for themselves but it sounds like it will come to a head in high school on what things they should pursue or not based on responses to this thread. I want them to have good skills in life too not just for college. When I grew up I didn't have the chance to experience all that kids have these days. Maybe I would have been a better person to have more passions in my life to reach for in times of stress.

Have you ever heard of "overcorrecting"? Just a thought.

No I married an overachiever. My DH is very into all of this and feels it will benefit the kids.

Uhm . . . how about you; are you into it? And how do the kids feel about the activities and the stress?