Good week article 3982

Talk to me in about 8 years ;-) While I agree with you in theory, you'll be surprised how easy it is to get very, very busy with just a couple of activities per child. Also, as you watch your child develop various talents and interests, it is hard to turn your back on those interests (especially if they promote things you want for your kids - exercise, quality social opportunities, building on inherent talents). My kids enjoy music lessons, scouting, and sports. Music lessons are once a week, scouting involves two meetings a month, one of them a Friday night, plus special weekend activities. Sports often run in long (Little League) or short segments (parks and recreation soccer or t-ball, for example, that run in six week periods). Because my oldest takes piano, am I to deny him the Scout experience that all his friends enjoy that only takes up a few evenings per month? Or do I say he can't do Little League, a physical activity he loves? I guess I just can't see the "one activity per semester" rule being practical, even if in theory it seems to rightly put family before activities. Quite frankly, I'd be afraid my son would throw in the towel on piano if it took away all other fun opportunites. But I'd hate him to not do piano at all just because he has scouts or has several week periods where he plays a sport. Almost every night, we have dinner together, but occasionally we have those nights where it's just crazy .....it's amazing how all our practices and meetings always turn out to be on Wednesdays! I think it's possible to be rational about doling out activites without insisting on boilerplate rules.....and I think our kids appreciate our flexibility and fairness. Sometimes we can do it and sometimes we can't. YMMV.

Karen Mom to three