Ugh so much pressure to be well rounded

[Anonymous]

I have 3 kids and I just feel like we are so ridiculously busy. School, homework, music, Scouts, sports, sports, sports. I really hate sports.

Academics is non-negotiable. Sports for 3 kids? Absolutely hate it.

[Anonymous]

Drop something that the kids don't want to do.

DS, 6, is in Scouts (which he loves), Baseball (which he loves), Coding club after school (he asks for it). We have offered music and he has said he is not interested. We have suggested piano, guitar, and drums but he has said no to all of them. So we don't do music.

Granted, it is easier when it is one kid (obviously) but we don't make him do something he does not want to to. Well, except swimming. He has to take swim lessons.

So ask you kids what one thing that they want to do and let them choose. Drop the rest.

[Anonymous]

You can cut back on some things or come up with a limit that you’re ok with and they can pick 1-2 things they want to do, etc.

[Anonymous]

How old are your kids and do they enjoy the sports? Is there a way to cut back? If your kids don't love the sports, it's time to focus on what they like. I agree, at a certain point, it is just too much. And that point differs for each kid and family. My 8 year old DD ended up way overbooked this year, so we are significantly cutting back for next school year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Drop something that the kids don't want to do.

DS, 6, is in Scouts (which he loves), Baseball (which he loves), Coding club after school (he asks for it). We have offered music and he has said he is not interested. We have suggested piano, guitar, and drums but he has said no to all of them. So we don't do music.

Granted, it is easier when it is one kid (obviously) but we don't make him do something he does not want to to. Well, except swimming. He has to take swim lessons.

So ask you kids what one thing that they want to do and let them choose. Drop the rest.

My kids only do activities they want to do. They do chess club and art at school and love it. Music is at school and they like it. We had private lessons but teacher had a baby so currently only at school. I don’t think each individual kid is necessarily doing too much.

I, the mom, am the one having a hard time juggling the activities of these three children.

I would love to drop scouts and sports.

[Anonymous]

This is why I try my best to get my kids involved in the same sports (we have 2 boys and a girl fwiw).

They're all involved in tennis and skiing. Then one also does soccer, one does fencing, and the other does a bunch of dance classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Drop something that the kids don't want to do.

DS, 6, is in Scouts (which he loves), Baseball (which he loves), Coding club after school (he asks for it). We have offered music and he has said he is not interested. We have suggested piano, guitar, and drums but he has said no to all of them. So we don't do music.

Granted, it is easier when it is one kid (obviously) but we don't make him do something he does not want to to. Well, except swimming. He has to take swim lessons.

So ask you kids what one thing that they want to do and let them choose. Drop the rest.

My kids only do activities they want to do. They do chess club and art at school and love it. Music is at school and they like it. We had private lessons but teacher had a baby so currently only at school. I don’t think each individual kid is necessarily doing too much.

I, the mom, am the one having a hard time juggling the activities of these three children.

I would love to drop scouts and sports.

Are you car pooling?
How many sports are we talking?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is why I try my best to get my kids involved in the same sports (we have 2 boys and a girl fwiw).

They're all involved in tennis and skiing. Then one also does soccer, one does fencing, and the other does a bunch of dance classes.

Op here. My kids play a lot of different sports throughout the year. They play tennis, golf and soccer. They also love to ski. Thank god they are no longer doing swim team and boys didn’t love baseball.

Why are we such a sports obsessed society?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Drop something that the kids don't want to do.

DS, 6, is in Scouts (which he loves), Baseball (which he loves), Coding club after school (he asks for it). We have offered music and he has said he is not interested. We have suggested piano, guitar, and drums but he has said no to all of them. So we don't do music.

Granted, it is easier when it is one kid (obviously) but we don't make him do something he does not want to to. Well, except swimming. He has to take swim lessons.

So ask you kids what one thing that they want to do and let them choose. Drop the rest.

My kids only do activities they want to do. They do chess club and art at school and love it. Music is at school and they like it. We had private lessons but teacher had a baby so currently only at school. I don’t think each individual kid is necessarily doing too much.

I, the mom, am the one having a hard time juggling the activities of these three children.

I would love to drop scouts and sports.

Are you car pooling?
How many sports are we talking?

Only 1 sport per season per kid. No regular carpooling. Just ask and do favors as needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why I try my best to get my kids involved in the same sports (we have 2 boys and a girl fwiw).

They're all involved in tennis and skiing. Then one also does soccer, one does fencing, and the other does a bunch of dance classes.

Op here. My kids play a lot of different sports throughout the year. They play tennis, golf and soccer. They also love to ski. Thank god they are no longer doing swim team and boys didn’t love baseball.

Why are we such a sports obsessed society?

DP. Sports are a fun, easy way for kids to get active and learn important life skills and lessons. You don't NEED sports for those things, but it's usually a lot of fun for kids to run around and play with their friends. Also, playing sports can serve as a good foundation for a healthy, active lifestyle as they get older.

But there comes a point where too many sports is a problem from a logistics perspective. Sounds like you may have reached that point!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why I try my best to get my kids involved in the same sports (we have 2 boys and a girl fwiw).

They're all involved in tennis and skiing. Then one also does soccer, one does fencing, and the other does a bunch of dance classes.

Op here. My kids play a lot of different sports throughout the year. They play tennis, golf and soccer. They also love to ski. Thank god they are no longer doing swim team and boys didn’t love baseball.

Why are we such a sports obsessed society?

If they are doing this all year round, it sounds like you are doing too much. "Society" isn't sports obsessed, you are.

[Anonymous]

You don't have to do everything. You don't need to be THAT well-rounded. I'm a natural athlete for large motor skill sports but haven't played baseball in my entire adult life. Hasn't affected me negatively ever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why I try my best to get my kids involved in the same sports (we have 2 boys and a girl fwiw).

They're all involved in tennis and skiing. Then one also does soccer, one does fencing, and the other does a bunch of dance classes.

Op here. My kids play a lot of different sports throughout the year. They play tennis, golf and soccer. They also love to ski. Thank god they are no longer doing swim team and boys didn’t love baseball.

Why are we such a sports obsessed society?

Because no one is home for the kids to play outside anymore so they do sports to make up for that time that we all spent mucking around the neighborhood and playing kick the can and freeze tag.

[Anonymous]

My 10yo does no sports. We hike as a family on trips and go for regular walks. She can swim well and ride a bike. She’s not interested in team sports so we never pushed it. She’s tried softball, basketball, and lacrosse.

I am practically giddy about it. We have so much more time than my friends. I really don’t think any of it is worth it.

[Anonymous]

While driving around like mad for sports games and practices is not fun, I am grateful that my kids are getting that physical activity and learning about teamwork, socializing, etc. If they aren't playing sports they want to be on electronics, so I'm grateful for sports.