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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]We pay a woman to come twice per week do to laundry and tidy and even food prep when we get our act together to meal plan.

It's the best $200/week I could ever spend. [/quote]

This sounds amazing. If you can find some one to do this I would.

I pay someone to drive my DC to an activity 20 minutes away, stay for the 1 the  lesson and bring them home. It’s been fantastic- DC lives the time and I knock stuff out instead of sitting in the car. This person has a full time job but I pay very well so it’s worth it to them 1x per week. Highly recommend.

Also, I work in an industry where part time is not common either but I asked for a reduced hour load and they were afraid I’d leave so they gave it to me. If you can do 30-34 hours a week it’s pretty seamless. I think working very part time like 15 hours a week or less is harder to swing in most industries. If you would like that, see if it’s an option. You might be surprised.[/quote]

PS I understand the need for a lot of activities. My kid has ADHD and lots and lots of exercise helps more than almost anything else. Just playing in the yard with friends doesn’t do it. Obviously many kids are not like this but I totally get it.[/quote]

Thank you. DC doesn't have ADHD but staying busy is best for them. Plus it's a physical activity and lots of exercise just does a lot for DC's disposition.

I wish people would stop saying we are overscheduled when this is what works best for DC. And that's often why I stay on the long days so I can at least see DC on breaks and eat dinner together.[/quote]

But you are overscheduled. You're letting your child's interests dictate your schedule in a way that prevents you from getting basic household tasks done. That's why you're exhausted. People limit their kids' choices based on what they can afford/how much time they have all the time. That's parenting.

Either scale back or outsource more. Those are your choices. [/quote]

That's not what people mean when they talk about a child being "overscheduled".  OP explained that her DC only actually does 1-2 activities at a time, but they are competitive and time consuming.  Those are the kinds of activities that are actually the most worthwhile and from which your child will reap real benefit.  I'd rather have some piles of clean, but unfolded, laundry than rip a passion away from my child.  (Although I have neither situation -- I have a part-time housekeeper who does the household tasks I can't get to.)  OP have you said somewhere that you adverse to hiring paid help or can't afford it?  If not, just do so.  You seem to have made it work with physically being able to get your kid where they need to go; that's actually usually the hard part.  The areas where you are falling short -- e.g., laundry -- are the easy-peasy ones to outsource (assuming $$ obviously).  [/quote]

[b]If the child’s activity schedule is creating difficulties for parents, then the family is overscheduled.[/b] It doesn’t really matter whether it’s one activity or ten. OP said her child is early elementary. “Ripping away a passion” sounds a bit dramatic for a kid that age. At some point a choice was made to sign the child up for an activity that is unusually time consuming for a young kid. This isn’t a high schooler who has slowly built up their commitment to something over time, who can be part of a carpool and/or get themselves to the activity. Most parents think about what kind of time they realistically have before signing up for something like this. It’s ok to tell kids no. Based on what OP has said it sounds like she has a hard time setting boundaries both at work and at home. [/quote]

Disagree.  A lot of things in life are difficult, it doesn't mean they are bad or should be eliminated.  OP has decided the difficulty is worth it, and I can envision a lot of scenarios where I would agree.  OP said younger elementary, does that mean like second grader?  I know a passionate ice skater that age.  I know a passionate baseball player.  Some kids are like that, and it really would be upsetting for them to have to stop.  Upthread OP didn't even seem to know where to look for a housekeeper.  She has clearly not exhausted very basic options here.  I don't think we need to jump to telling her to have her child quit.  [/quote]

Op here. Yes, 2nd grade. And the time spent in this activity has grown little by little until a bigger jump in time commitment this year. DC enjoys it, I like seeing the commitment to something. We’ve totally followed DC’s lead on this and I would like to help them continue but I’ve got to find time to get other things done.

I do have a house cleaner 2x/mo. No one I know where we live has a housekeeper beyond that, so you are correct, I don’t know where to get someone beyond that.[/quote]

Do you like and trust the housekeeper? Have them come every week and wash laundry. Two extra hours or so or an extra day a week. I think if you have some one good asking if they would be open to more is a good start. I only have some one come 1x a month and she just does sheets but for another family I know they have her come every week and also do laundry. Can’t hurt to ask! [/quote]

Op here. I trust them enough because DH is WFH so someone is home. Actually this a great thought. I’m not sure they would based off of how they make us strip the bed to even change sheets (not wash) but worth an ask!! [/quote]

Just make it clear you will pay more if you are asking them to do more! [/quote]

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