The Imperfect Community

[iowafan]

Where I live, we can sign up for a lot of recreational leagues and sports that ate reasonable priced for the most part. I have always wanted my kids to be active, but some weeks it seems nuts!
We always try to fit about 4 family dinners plus weekend meals together, but it gets hard sometimes!!
Anyone else?

[Darlene]

Iowafan,your kids look so precious,I know you are proud,rightfully so. I have a Daughter(single parent) she has 4 girls 18-16-9-7-,the two older girls work,the oldest one is into sports,and a sports med class, which will help with college,but I see mom on the go constantly(and she has a 40 hr wk job also)just recently one nite the older girl told her mom to stay home all day ,miss work, miss all practices,and just stay home, my daughter said it was like a day at the spa.she rarely gets time out like that,I told her sometimes you just have to shut down,the two younger ones seem to need so much more of her than the older ones did,I'm sure b/c dad is'nt around that much,Any way You Moms have a lot of titles to carry,it is a 24/7 never ending job,I think thats what I like about Jon Gosselin, he helps Kate a lot.

[iowafan]

[Jessica]

The older they get, the more difficult and expensive their recreational activities become.

I still don't understand the traveling sports leagues, especially the national traveling leagues. I have heard some families put up second mortgages on their houses to have their children in national, traveling leagues. They feel it's a competitive edge that will grant their children opportunities in life. While, on one hand, it's a noble sacrifice, on the other, it's quite indulgent and somewhat "stage mother-ish".

My older son will be starting a local, traveling football team this summer and I'm preparing for the next chapter of my parenting responsibilities. My opinion is, as long as he is driving the bus and wants to do it, I'll do it, but if he wants to quit, there will be no second chances. I'm not doing it for me. He has to want to do it.

Both of my kids will be going to day camp as well. Now, that is for *me*. LOL. It's called insurance for mommy and daddy's mental health.

[Darlene]

Jessica,absolutely,yeah for day camps and vacation bible schools, ,thats what me and hubby loved to, the kids need time away from parents, and the parents really need it to, Bless you,have a good day.

[Queen Bee]

I think we are just busy enough really. Our oldest is six and just entering into the world of sports and extra curricular activities. So far he has done league soccer, swim lessons, VBS (vacation bible school), and recreational ice skating. He has signed up again for the soccer season and hubby is going to join a martial arts class with him so they can learn together. We will pick swim lessons back up in the fall when most of the kids return to school (I homeschool) and we can attend class with other homeschooled kids when it's not so busy (our fitness centre is chaos during the summer!). We also got a family membership at the local space science centre which allows us to participate in all kinds of cool activities throughout the year! Next year we will also have field trips and gatherings with our local homeschooling group which will call for more travel time. My son has also asked to learn piano, so we picked up a second hand upright and are starting the very basic skills while he waits to hit the magic age that a formal instructor will take him on as a pupil.

[jenna roberts]

[Ephesians 2:10]

[mommyplus3]

Our standing rule is that the kids (9, 11, and 13) can do 1 thing. It's the only way that I can stay sane, since hubby travels 2-3 weeks at a time. More than that and I would totally go off the deep end.