Carpools. The answer is carpools.

This is why we had two.

We only have two kids and our jobs are flexible.

Is there a city bus your kid could take in the summer? Or ride his bike?

Two kids - one HS, one middle school.

Two working parents, mainly WFH but also a good deal of travel so only one is home.

Sports rules:
1) Only play rec sports so travel is kept within 15 minute time range
2) Live near HS when it comes time to HS practices

We live somewhere where the kids can get around on their own as non-drivers, and this is a big reason. I can't imagine having to schlep kids around in a car all evening after a full day of work and school. For the parents who say it's "hell" -- are your kids really getting so much out of it that you can't find a less rigorous solution? My kids are still young enough that they aren't going around on their own, but our neighbors and friends aren't nearly as stressed out about this as it seems to be in the real suburbs.

I am fortunate to be far enough along in my career that I have a lot of leave. I will take an hour of leave if needed. Makes me feel less insane to bite the bullet and take leave vs. trying to work all hours.

I also offer to help out and drive others places when I can … that way if I inevitably need help w my own kids, I don’t feel bad asking.

We also just do fall and spring. Having that off time is helping for everyone.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a nanny, and we don't encourage competitive sports. Learn the skills, sure. Play against other kids in your class, sure. But no travel soccer or any of that.

If you have a nanny, not allowing your kids to do activities makes no sense. Its not like you have to do anything, the nanny does.

Oh, our kids do tons of activities. Just not competitive sports that involve six practices and four games each week.

It’s hell! You are not alone OP. Pulling my hair out.

Only two kids, and one of us works from home each day, which helps.

But carpools are the answer.

Honestly it’s awful and our kids do not even do particularly crazy sports. We did rec sports only through about 7th grade when the red options start to dry up. We have one kid that plays a HS sport which basically mandates that they also do an off season travel club to stay in shape. One kid that does travel soccer but not on one of the crazy intense clubs. And one kid that does 3 different very low key red sports mainly because she’s trying out some new things before deciding if she wants to get serious about any of them. For the rec teams we carpool heavily. It’s too hard to carpool for the travel teams because kids are too spread out but we’d beg a ride if needed. And thankfully my oldest is now driving — although it still is a challenge with shuffling the cars.
Basically make friends with people on the team and offers to help others whenever possible so they karma comes around. And try to schedule for flexible jobs. We end up working 9-11 every night so that we can take a break 5-7 to get a kid to practice or game. I hate it but don’t want to tell the kids to give up something they love (the older ones are really into their sports and it’s good for their mental health). I’m going to make the youngest trim it down for next year.

Anonymous wrote:We have a nanny, and we don't encourage competitive sports. Learn the skills, sure. Play against other kids in your class, sure. But no travel soccer or any of that.

How old are your kids?

Anonymous wrote:We have a nanny, and we don't encourage competitive sports. Learn the skills, sure. Play against other kids in your class, sure. But no travel soccer or any of that.

If you have a nanny, not allowing your kids to do activities makes no sense. Its not like you have to do anything, the nanny does.

We have a nanny, and we don't encourage competitive sports. Learn the skills, sure. Play against other kids in your class, sure. But no travel soccer or any of that.

This is what the au pair program was intended to address. Hire help! You will get your sanity back.

3 kids, both parents work full time. All three kids play sports. For example, this week, between the three of them they have 13 practices.

Jobs with flexibility, meal planning, and complicated carpools are the answers during the school year.

Summer swim is the best because my kids can walk to the neighborhood pool.