Comments on: 7 ways to keep kid activities from taking over your life (or at least your weekends)

By: lauravanderkam

lauravanderkam — Wed, 08 Jun 2016 02:06:13 +0000

In reply to Kathleen. @Kathleen - yep, as long as the kids go to bed, in home date night can be great. You can relax, have some wine without worrying who's driving, etc.

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Wed, 08 Jun 2016 01:05:31 +0000

Although we have two kids and they’re younger (3 and 5), we’ve also seen the ways in which the weekend can become overtaken with kid activities. This is especially true because I’m gone 12-13 hours daily for work + commute and also travel frequently, so I want the weekends to be kid-focused. We’ve made the weekend evenings the adult “anchor” time. Friday is family pizza night, when my husband makes homemade pizzas for us, but Saturday and Sunday nights are at-home date nights after the kids go to bed. Order in, watch a movie or the show-of-the-moment (hello, GOT or Americans), and see where the evening goes. Sure, dinner is at 9:30 or so two nights a week, but it’s worth it for uninterrupted adult time. And no sitter to pay!

By: Ana

Ana — Fri, 03 Jun 2016 19:48:42 +0000

In reply to J. This is so smart! I take my son to a drop off class once a week and unless I've planned an errand to do during that time, I usually just sit there for the hour and try to work (though some parents stay there with their other, younger, kids so its hard to focus) or fritter away time on my phone. I bet there is a gym/studio nearby to fit in a workout.

By: lauravanderkam

lauravanderkam — Fri, 03 Jun 2016 16:35:13 +0000

In reply to J. @J - this is so smart to scope out gyms and coffee shops nearby. I have gone for runs during the practice before a game and then come back to watch the game.

By: J

Fri, 03 Jun 2016 13:14:18 +0000

Great post. My advice is think about what you want to do during the event, especially if you don’t have another kid in tow. Some travel sports require the kid to show up an hour in advance for warmups. It is easy for the parent to fritter away that time. I tried to bring a book or bring work and go to a coffee shop so that I wouldn’t get sucked into chit chat with the other parents. For places we went often, I actually had scoped out gyms that allow you to pay per use. I used to drop off, do a quick workout, and make it back for (almost) the start of the game. Sometimes I want to socialize with the other parents but you do generally get to see these people A LOT!

By: lauravanderkam

lauravanderkam — Fri, 03 Jun 2016 12:48:56 +0000

In reply to Jennie Evans. @Jennie- Also, as the kids get older, they're likely doing the activities they are personally most invested in (I would imagine). And at some blessed moment, they become able to drive themselves! Though that seems to be relatively late now with the graduated licensing thing.

By: Jennie Evans

Jennie Evans — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 18:36:31 +0000

I’m the parent of 3 kids that play multiple sports, music, and Scouting programs. There are nights when 4 activities will be going on, but these are usually within just a certain time frame. Fall seems to be the worst. I think the “busy” actually peaks at around 8-11 years of age. At this stage, you don’t actually have to be that good to play. By the time they hit 7th grade, you have to try out and some weeding gets done. I used to be miserable during this time, but realized it was my own expectations getting in my way. I got frustrated that my house was messy, or meals were hurried, or whatever. I had to learn that a grilled cheese on the way to the ball field was ok. I made friends with other parents and found a community of friends. Ball field time became social time. No one stage is inherently busier than another. We just sometimes make it so with our own expectations.

By: lauravanderkam

lauravanderkam — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 17:47:26 +0000

In reply to Lacy. @Lacy- Yes! You need an anchor event or two. Just knowing that there is an adults-only dinner, or a coffee with a friend waiting for you after the soccer madness can go a long way to making it tolerable.

By: lauravanderkam

lauravanderkam — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 17:46:34 +0000

In reply to SHU.

@SHU – eh, once you’re juggling, you’re juggling. It’s just 2 more balls in the air 😉

By: Lacy

Lacy — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 15:21:27 +0000

Thanks for this post. Your perspective on how you keep kids activities in their proper place is so what I needed right now! The hubby and I just had a long conversation about all the logistics for our three kiddos’ activities (two in summer baseball and soccer winding up) this summer. We are buying a house and moving in the midst of it all so I’m just embracing that it will be a crazy couple of months. But my goal is to enjoy all the crazy because it is good.

And your last point about having parent anchor activities…SO good! I will have to do this for this upcoming weekend’s soccer tournament flurry. 🙂