tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36725499.post4177018481753532541..comments2023-03-31T12:01:55.002-04:00Comments on Chaos: Party of Six: The Busy BalanceEmilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09257383770882314637noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36725499.post-30033594089956638102011-09-02T13:19:55.067-04:002011-09-02T13:19:55.067-04:00PS- I'd rather "wait to add" then ha...PS- I'd rather "wait to add" then have to back outbluedaisyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00501263462151943825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36725499.post-63314441854626976552011-09-02T13:19:03.976-04:002011-09-02T13:19:03.976-04:00This really is a tough question & one I have s...This really is a tough question & one I have struggled with as well. Right now, Michael is in full day kinder, Liam is about to start 3 days (2 hrs each) am preschool with one day of "lunch bunch". Chloe is taking a semester off (LOL).<br />I had the boys signed up for t-ball, then realized that the program I chose is no good. So I just cancelled that yesterday. Now I feel like I want to find something else- maybe soccer? Or we could jump back with swim lessons.<br />I like having things to do but I personally HATE feeling hemmed in by too much. Obviously, I will have to adjust as the kids get older. So for now, I think school plus one extra weekly activity is fine (plus church which we also do). If the boys want to do scouts which meets less frequently, I think it would be fine to add that as well. I think having something too many nights of the week and then EVERY weekend gets a bit too hectic. And Michael is SUPER tired from the full school day, so I'm gonna let him settle into that before attempting too much. I can easily do things with the younger 2 throughout the week.<br />You could always start out with what you planned, see how it goes and then add scouts in if it makes sense.bluedaisyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00501263462151943825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36725499.post-51956386876463482542011-09-01T23:14:02.904-04:002011-09-01T23:14:02.904-04:00Right now I have K for Jack & soccer. I'm ...Right now I have K for Jack & soccer. I'm nervous about Danny going to pre-K next week. Could be an EXPLOSION involved. So maybe I'll comment then.... XPamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05443153003836499323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36725499.post-53144341986011048852011-09-01T15:49:29.440-04:002011-09-01T15:49:29.440-04:00I didn't have 3 kids close together; and I als...I didn't have 3 kids close together; and I also worked full time when you guys were in school. Sanity takes a different form under these circumstances.<br /><br />However, I had a couple of great friends at church (Peggy T and Sandy B) who DID have 3 or 4 kids at home like you. They felt it was valuable to have at least a couple of nights a week where the family ate together around the table at supper time. They balanced their activities so this could happen. This included parents' activities, too.<br /><br />You just have to create a space where kids can talk to you about their day and spend time with you. It pays big dividends when they are teens.Omanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36725499.post-31083311799037728422011-09-01T14:28:55.443-04:002011-09-01T14:28:55.443-04:00Oh, I also forgot to add that Rachel wants to take...Oh, I also forgot to add that Rachel wants to take piano, too, but my husband wants me to teach her, which I don't think will work. I've always heard that you should wait until a child knows how to read before starting lessons, which is one reason why I haven't even attempted it with her, yet. Anyway...I hope you find a good balance for your family.Weedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02189649446206022688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36725499.post-21443385272770997812011-09-01T14:25:10.250-04:002011-09-01T14:25:10.250-04:00This very much hits home right now... My husband ...This very much hits home right now... My husband and I tend to disagree about how much is too much. He grew up not doing much as far as extra curricular activities, and I grew up doing a lot. I don't want my kids to be super busy, but I do want them to try various activities to find something they're good at and that interests them. I'm not an extrovert, but my children seem to be, so I'm happy to let them be involved in activities outside the house (spending too much time at home also drives me nuts). <br /><br />Rachel's doing gymnastics starting in November. She also wants to do girl scouts (I hope Katy does it, since they'd likely get to be together!). I really want to do AWANA but it's so late.... She wants to take dance, but I can't find a reasonably priced dance class. I may have to bite the bullet next year and let her take a studio ballet class (most 5 year old classes are still combo classes, and I know she'd prefer ballet, which you can usually start at 6). Anyway, all that to say, my husband tends to think one activity is enough. I'd lean towards two at this age. I think it may be a trial and error kind of thing--you try a few and see if you feel stretched too thin, and cut back the next time.Weedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02189649446206022688noreply@blogger.com