Comments on: Scheduling Conflicts Of Motherhood

By: Rebecca of RootsAndWingsCo

Rebecca of RootsAndWingsCo — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 03:39:41 +0000

Ah, the dilemmas of motherhood! I have 3 very busy children. I like to have the kids in one activity, each, at a time. However, even if I took one kid to their game, and their Dad took another to their game, that still leaves us not making it to the 3rd game. I’ve let it get hectic a few times with Volleyball, TBall, and Soccer at the same time. Inevitably all 3 games overlapped each other. Thankfully I have family with kids the same ages. So, I make sure to sign my kids up for something that one of their cousins will also be in. My family is awesome at taking them to not just games but to practices as well. So my advice if you don’t have extra family would be to carpool with friends! I am a HUGE sports fan! I never went a season without playing on 1-4 different sports teams as well as being completely involved in school with things like band and student council. I don’t know how my Mom did it! I have decided with my own kids that we will take breaks. We will have them all do something for a season (or 2), making it super chaotic, and then we will all take a break for a season. I decided that the family time is just too important to give up all the time. The kids really need down time to do “nothing”, too! I am in the middle of my first season of no activities…and I am loving it. I thought I would miss the activities and that the kids would be upset. But they are not. We’ve never played as many board games, snuggled during as many movies, or read as many books as during this off season! I will continue to have an off season at least once a year, and I think I will continue to have it be during the Holidays. Sometimes too much really is just too much!

Rebecca

By: amy

amy — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 02:45:50 +0000

It is so hard! I have three boys and they are all involved in sports. I have even had to hire a babysitter to watch my youngest son’s game when the other two have had games at the same time and day. I do not think it is fair to limit one from doing an after school activity over the other. Each day is one day at a time and somehow it works. Some days better than others and always with the help of friends and my husband.

By: ladybughugs

ladybughugs — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:11:25 +0000

My husband and I use the divide-and-conquer method. We try not to drop-and-run and we never leave Lil’bug (right now she’s only taking dance class once a week). We picked her dance school because it was so close to their school so we can drop him at basketball, take her to dance, and then go back for him. It surprises me when parents drop their 3-yo at dance and goes off for a cup of coffee. It never fails, whichever parent leaves that child will come out of class and need help in the bathroom, which leaves a stranger or the dance school receptionist to help the child…and making sure they go before leaving the house does not ensure they won’t have to go while in class. I won’t leave her because I have to expect the unexpected. Child gets hurt and I’m not there. Car trouble while I’m out and I can’t get back. Yes, it would be nice to be able to run to the supermarket and pick up the few things I need for dinner and not have to take the time on my way home after class, but I won’t take the chance. So we divide-and-conquer.

By: TJ

TJ — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 07:56:35 +0000

My parents relied heavily on that 3rd driver. I was in a car accident just after I got my license and was pretty content never to drive again. My parents coddled me for a while, but finally said “We didn’t give you a car for the heck of it, you need to start driving again because you and your brother and sister have places to be.”

Hopefully that 3rd driver will lighten your load as well.

By: karen

karen — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:41:51 +0000

Not sure what to tell you on the scheduling conflict–other than don’t worry—it will all work out fine.

BUT I wanted to comment on the picture–I think this may be one of my all time favorites–but I’m not definitely committing…because there very possibly could be another all time favorite that I’ve forgotten about!!! HA.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:08:27 +0000

My three boys are really into baseball. Last season our oldest was playing city league and an all star team and the two younger ones were playing city league as well. We basically had baseball every day but Sunday. We got really creative on getting everyone where they needed to be. I requested that my youngest be put on the same team as my friends little boy so she could pitch in if needed. Every week I would sit down and look at any conflicts and figure out how to deal with them. My husband and I had to split up a lot. My parents helped. We even had to drop one off at practice at one ball field and then drive to another field to watch a game. Then one of us would leave to go get him when he was done. When his coach found out what we were doing he started dropping him off at the game for us. It was crazy, but the kids had a ton of fun. Because it’s so crazy we have limited their other activities now that baseball is over. I have to save up my sanity.

By: lisa-marie

lisa-marie — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:33:31 +0000

That picture is amazing! Great job!

By: Dianne in Cali!

Dianne in Cali! — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:15:15 +0000

I have 3 kids and work full time….and let me tell you it is HARD! I haven’t quite mastered it yet and I don’t think I EVER will!

By: Linda260

Linda260 — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:23:18 +0000

I can’t comment on the schedule juggling (no experience to offer), but I have to echo the comments on the photo – she looks like a little model in a catalog. Such a cutie!

By: Karly

Karly — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:22:41 +0000

NikkiZ is so adorable! That’s a beautiful picture. Love the little outfit, but that hat? Too cute.