For Kain99

[Railroad]

I just overheard Fox News programming that was a discussion of women's issues. One of the issues is the amount of stress full-time mothers experience, and included in key stress factors was all the extra activities of their children. One good point that was mentioned (but not belabored) is that mothers can choose fewer activities, etc. to control the stresses. I guess my first question is, what motivates people to do all this extra stuff in the first place? And then my next question is, what about the extra stress placed on a kid (e.g., pressure to do well at everything)?

 

[Kain99]

I just overheard Fox News programming that was a discussion of women's issues. One of the issues is the amount of stress full-time mothers experience, and included in key stress factors was all the extra activities of their children. One good point that was mentioned (but not belabored) is that mothers can choose fewer activities, etc. to control the stresses. I guess my first question is, what motivates people to do all this extra stuff in the first place? And then my next question is, what about the extra stress placed on a kid (e.g., pressure to do well at everything)?

Hey Thanks for the post but.... wtf?

 

[Railroad]

Hey Thanks for the post but.... wtf?

As you asked and I promised, I tried to post something meaningful. :shrug:

 

[Kain99]

As you asked and I promised, I tried to post something meaningful. :shrug:

Ahhh! Appreciate it! Guees I'm feeling a little lacking as a mom at the moment. Sorry for the blast.

 

[bresamil]

I can't speak for Kain, but for me its not the number of activities so much as the number of children. I have three and they are each allowed 1 activity outside of school. Unfortunately due to age and interest differences, those activities are seldom the same or on the same schedule.

 

[morganj614]

Ahhh! Appreciate it! Guees I'm feeling a little lacking as a mom at the moment. Sorry for the blast.

Good moms make sure their kids have fun. It doesn't have to be every sport or activity, but time spent with your kids or letting them just be kids!

 

[Railroad]

Ahhh! Appreciate it! Guees I'm feeling a little lacking as a mom at the moment. Sorry for the blast.

No sweat!

 

[Railroad]

Good moms make sure their kids have fun. It doesn't have to be every sport or activity, but time spent with your kids or letting them just be kids!

And why can't this be done at home? After homework? I honestly do want to know. With our kids, we had a brief association with T-Ball, but we all got tired of it. My wife used to play catch with the kids, and we had badminton for awhile, and we had croquet. But the kids quite honestly preferred to play hide-and-seek and stuff with each other more than anything else.

 

[Railroad]

I can't speak for Kain, but for me its not the number of activities so much as the number of children. I have three and they are each allowed 1 activity outside of school. Unfortunately due to age and interest differences, those activities are seldom the same or on the same schedule.

Did they come up with these activities on their own, or did you find the activities and offer them to the kids?

 

[morganj614]

And why can't this be done at home? After homework? I honestly do want to know. With our kids, we had a brief association with T-Ball, but we all got tired of it. My wife used to play catch with the kids, and we had badminton for awhile, and we had croquet. But the kids quite honestly preferred to play hide-and-seek and stuff with each other more than anything else.

It can be done at home. We did the t-ball thing also way back when. I was lucky and I worked only part time even tho it meant we were kinda poor. But summers at the base beach and pool, playing with the kids in the neighborhood and visiting relatives was fine.

 

[Kain99]

And why can't this be done at home? After homework? I honestly do want to know. With our kids, we had a brief association with T-Ball, but we all got tired of it. My wife used to play catch with the kids, and we had badminton for awhile, and we had croquet. But the kids quite honestly preferred to play hide-and-seek and stuff with each other more than anything else.

Well... I'm not sure how but I raised jocks.... Ryan has played every sport imaginable and is currently a football star and plays lacross.

Jared.... Football sideline hero and plays Baseball.

They both love to shoot people in the head with paintballs.

I never pushed I biatched constantly... It's just the way it is.

 

[aps45819]

. One of the issues is the amount of stress full-time mothers experience, and included in key stress factors was all the extra activities of their children.

To bad parents can't just turn the kids loose outside anymore without worrying about some prev trying to snatch them.

 

[Railroad]

It can be done at home. We did the t-ball thing also way back when. I was lucky and I worked only part time even tho it meant we were kinda poor. But summers at the base beach and pool, playing with the kids in the neighborhood and visiting relatives was fine.

Good on ya! I'll bet you AND the kids really came through it well!

 

[bresamil]

Did they come up with these activities on their own, or did you find the activities and offer them to the kids?

They did. We played a lot of sports at home when they were little and still do. The boys decided they'd like to try sports as a team activity. The daughter loves horses and wanted to learn to ride so she wouldn't be afraid if offered the opportunity. She got the basics down and feels confident riding, so now she decided to try Girl Scouts. They do many things we do at home (crafts, music, sports), but she enjoys doing them with friends her own age as well. They also prioritize. The oldest will put academics first. He's been upfront with every coach that if his grades start slipping, practice won't be a priority. The coaches have always respected and agreed with him. It's one of the reasons he likes rec leagues and not travel or select teams.

 

[Railroad]

Well... I'm not sure how but I raised jocks.... Ryan has played every sport imaginable and is currently a football star and plays lacross.

Jared.... Football sideline hero and plays Baseball.

They both love to shoot people in the head with paintballs.

I never pushed I biatched constantly... It's just the way it is.

Moms are supposed to biatch constantly. How else would little boys grow up to be fine young men?

 

[Chain729]

And why can't this be done at home? After homework? I honestly do want to know. With our kids, we had a brief association with T-Ball, but we all got tired of it. My wife used to play catch with the kids, and we had badminton for awhile, and we had croquet. But the kids quite honestly preferred to play hide-and-seek and stuff with each other more than anything else.

My sister and I both played soccer when we younger. I played football for a year, but didn't weigh enough the next year to make the division, though I was too old for the previous one. My sister changed from out-door to indoor soccer, as well as gymnastics. A few years later, I took up TKD and about a year later she dropped soccer and gymnastics to pick TKD up with me. I stopped several years ago, due to the instructor and I not seeing eye to eye on why I was there, as well as home stress. She kept going until college, and while I'm completely out of shape, she's about where I left off, as far knowledge is concerned.

The point being, there's a couple of things in that list that you can't do home. They require proper equipment, instruction, or just more people than are available.

 

[morganj614]

Good on ya! I'll bet you AND the kids really came through it well!

Well not without a few bumps. Now that we are all adults it's not so smooth.. They treat ME like the kid.

 

[K_Jo]

I can really relate. Our cats keep us running. "Meow, we want food." "Meow, we want water." "Meow, there's too much pooh in the litter box." Crazy. I need a vacation.