Anonymous wrote:We are under scheduled and have lucked out by not having sporty children! We spend our weekends playing amazing board games now that they are older. Father-son bike rides, mom-daughter lunches, "doing nothing" at home leads to son reading newspaper next to us, etc. We have time to see friends (and their kids). Most of the friends have overbooked their children but we only need to see one family per weekend. The other people are always running between soccer games and god knows what else… poor things! I love, love, love, family time. This is what we had a family for.

You are my hero. Mine are four and a baby, and thank you for this vision of a possible future!

Anonymous wrote:Why do you see it as a problem for parents to want to go watch their kids' games? Personally, I only have one kid. I could care less about sports, but I want to watch DS play his soccer game on Saturday. I work full time during the week and have a long commute, so the only time I get to spend with DS is on the weekend.

It's not a problem for you, parent of 1 child.
It is a problem for OP, who allowed her kids to get booked for 8 activities on a Saturday and is overwhelmed. Life can get a lot more complicated with 3+ kids. You have to work harder at balance.

Ideally, one parent should take 4 or 5 of the team's kids to the game per week (load up the minivan), and rotate amongst parents. Then you only have to drive/go once a month or so. However, every time I email the teams' parents for a carpool. No one (or maybe 1 person) responds, because everyone has to go watch their precious snowflake.

Parents have given their lives over completely for their kids- this is not the way children are supposed to be raised. We are supposed to raise them to be self-sufficient productive members of society, not self-centered amateur athletes.

Why do you see it as a problem for parents to want to go watch their kids' games? Personally, I only have one kid. I could care less about sports, but I want to watch DS play his soccer game on Saturday. I work full time during the week and have a long commute, so the only time I get to spend with DS is on the weekend.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Serious question here: what do you all do during this "family time"? Honestly, I like having busy weekends with lots to do. I would hate to have to come up w/ things to do w/ the kids on the weekend.

Oh, dear.
Your post reads like you have your kids in activities to avoid having to spend time with them on the weekends. It's not a chore to me to spend time with my family.

Oh, dear, you have misunderstood my post. I spend time w/ my kids all the time, both during the week and on the weekends (while I work full-time, my schedule is flexible and I work a lot from home). My question was about what you do with all this "family time"? Is it just downtime at home? If so, I get that. Or is it something more creative...e.g., going hiking, to the movies, etc.? I honestly don't see how hanging at home w/ your kids where everyone is doing his/her own thing is better quality time than bringing them to games, parties, etc. But maybe during that downtime you are engaging in a special "family" moment like baking, playing games, etc. So, please, tell me what you do during that family time. That's the info I'm looking for.

Yes. At least one "big" thing like a hike, a festival, farmer's market, concert, play, etc.. Something fun at home like baking, or friends over to BBQ. My kids also go to Sunday School on Sunday mornings.

Anonymous wrote:We are under scheduled and have lucked out by not having sporty children! We spend our weekends playing amazing board games now that they are older. Father-son bike rides, mom-daughter lunches, "doing nothing" at home leads to son reading newspaper next to us, etc. We have time to see friends (and their kids). Most of the friends have overbooked their children but we only need to see one family per weekend. The other people are always running between soccer games and god knows what else… poor things! I love, love, love, family time. This is what we had a family for.

Love it!

ditto all above. (4 kids here)
especially carpool.

and when did it start becoming mandatory that all parents attend the kids games? That's BS. It's their hobby, not yours.

Ideally, one parent should take 4 or 5 of the team's kids to the game per week (load up the minivan), and rotate amongst parents. Then you only have to drive/go once a month or so. However, every time I email the teams' parents for a carpool. No one (or maybe 1 person) responds, because everyone has to go watch their precious snowflake.

Parents have given their lives over completely for their kids- this is not the way children are supposed to be raised. We are supposed to raise them to be self-sufficient productive members of society, not self-centered amateur athletes.

And birthday parties after age 6 should be inviting 1-3 close friends for a small outing or cake at home. Not a whole class event. Opt out.

We are under scheduled and have lucked out by not having sporty children! We spend our weekends playing amazing board games now that they are older. Father-son bike rides, mom-daughter lunches, "doing nothing" at home leads to son reading newspaper next to us, etc. We have time to see friends (and their kids). Most of the friends have overbooked their children but we only need to see one family per weekend. The other people are always running between soccer games and god knows what else… poor things! I love, love, love, family time. This is what we had a family for.

Also, it's nice to have some time that is just time for the kids to spend time with friends - which you can't do if you are always at an activity

I have one word for you--- carpool.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I would just kiss travel sports good bye. I know I will get crap on here but it's bullshit. It's not like most of these kids are going to get scholarships it pro offers. It isn't worth the stress imposed on family time.

Except we thought it was really fun and that rec was not. No judgment here, but at least for us, it was what my kid lived for through middle school.

Yeah, but OP's kids are in ES. That's too young for travel soccer, IMO (not the PP).

Cut that out, for sure OP!

Anonymous wrote:Cut down to one activity/team for kid.

And could #1 really go to soccer at 10:30, then birthday at 11? Just pick one or the other.

Dude, what kid has a b-day party 11am during prime soccer season? Skip