When I was a kid I remember being told “get outside and play, it’s a beautiful day! Just make sure you are home before dark”. So off my sister and I would go. We rode our bikes, climbed trees, built forts, knocked on neighbours doors, and on more then one occasion barely made it home before the sun went down. The weekends were for the cottage or visiting with family or friends. I was never bored, and looking back I realize I was spoiled beyond belief. I was enrolled in Brownies, but that’s about it. We turned out just fine. Truly.
Fast forward 30 years and I look at my dear daughters schedule. Our family life is very different. Between Gymnastics three times per week for one child, and piano and dance class for the other, we are out of the house for activities 5 times per week. Truth be told if the girls had it their way, guitar lessons, singing lessons and synchronized swimming would all be added to this list! I am a Mama who is strongly resisting any more extra curricular activities. Turns out, in our neighbourhood, I am in the minority?
When I balked at adding more to my daughters “to do” lists, I was met with “But Mom…Sarah takes Gym, piano, Chinese lessons, swimming, soccer, brownies and singing.” Yep, something every single night. So when does this kid eat, play, do homework, veg? Just be a kid?
Kids in the Suburbs are quickly being forced to compete to survive. You want a chance at making that Theatre Group? You better have taken dance and singing or forget it. Want an “A” in Phys-Ed, or an edge to make the school teams? Well I hope your Mom had the foresight to get you some extra skating—soccer—volleyball—basketball- help, otherwise you don’t have a chance!
You are not in ANY extra curricular activities? Huh. Noses in the Suburbs scrape the sky. Clearly “we” are doing more for our child then you are doing for yours. Don’t you want the best for your child?? Is the general thought.
Stop the insanity!
I for one am putting my foot down. I’m helping my children find a balance between school life and the activities they love. I want them to know how to play by themselves, to be able to enjoy unstructured time. I want them to lie in the grass with nothing more to do then count the clouds, to build snow forts until their hands are numb, to ride their bikes and race home to barely make it home before dark.
Go ahead…..call me a bad Mama. I’m over the “super schedule” I don’t need to create SuperKids, I already have two…..just the way they are.
I’m off at BlisdomCanada. Promise to be back visiting next week:)
I’m with you. I remember having hours to just read and hang out. Enough is enough.
I am with you! I dont get why parents do that to their kids. They dont need to always be on the go like that. They need time with their friends, time to do the things they love…and time to just be kids!
Totally agree..Activities are important but not to push them to unhappiness in a heavy schedule.
Totally agree..Activities are important but not to push them to unhappiness in a heavy schedule.
I second EVERYTHING you just said. I think activities are important, but a 2 or 3 is a-ok.
so true. My dh and I were just discussing this. My son wants to play baseball but my dh is so mad that want so much family time from us. 3 hours on saturday, 3 hours on sunday, 2 hour practices 2x a week too so thats 10 hours a week of basbeall…ITS TOO MUCH! I feel like i am the only parent that thinks this. I would be fine iwth just 1 hour on saturday not flippin 10 hours a week. Then of course my oldest has girl scouts, my younger son has soccer, etc where is family time?
It is a major issues lately in our home. yet I feel like I am not doing enough per kid etc.
I agree with you 100%%%%
I have never over scheduled my kids, I love for them to have ‘down time’…you know to chill out, read a book, play in the pool, be a kid.
I see folks raising their kids over scheduled and really, NONE of them look very happy.
Things were the same in my day. You either went out on your own, or mom sent you out. There were no fears about strangers or abductions. No cell phones either. You were gone all day and there was no checking in. You just knew to be home for dinner. That’s the way it was. And maybe once a week you went somewhere for that extracurricular activity. And guess what….we turned out just fine.
Woman, you’re preaching to the choir. It’s unbelievable what these people do in suburbia hell to get their kids the “in”… what’s sad is when there are ones with just natural God-given talent and people don’t understand how they can DO that WITHOUT all the extra dinero flying out for it!
Man how the times have changed! I think it’s great that you’re not being like tons of other mothers out there.
A LOT of mom’s want their kids to become super famous for their OWN benefit and they push and push their kids!
I totally agree. I find the balance so hard because the kids would love to try everything & I want to offer them every option & opportunity possible but I’ve kept it to 2 activities per kid. When home we work through homework & play, being a kid goes so quickly.
Good for you!! I totally agree with you. While we aren’t there quite yet, my daughter is only 22 months old, ALREADY there exists pressure for her to be MORE INVOLVED!! Pfft! No way, like you I recall my childhood with warm remembrance of imagination, creativity, freedom…FUN and LEARNING!!
Loved this!!
Good call, from a good mom!!
I completely agree. Kids are pushed to the max these days and don’t have time to be kids.
You might have to change your title to “Really Good Mom”. ; )