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Kats~

by antsmomie from MO

Last Post 208 days, 17 hours Ago


What happened to family time
Aug 28, 2007 | 2:07 PM
Category: News
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The past six years of my life have gone by in the blink of an eye. I have 3 kids who require a lot of attention, but are also involved in extracurricular activities which requires me driving them there and picking them up and a majority of the time staying there with them. I love the fact that they want to do these things and they like to do them, but at the same time I feel like they may be damaging to our at home life. It seems here lately that when we don't have anything to do they want to leave and go someplace. It doesn't really matter where, they just want to be on the go. I began thinking to myself about when I was little and we would have movie night or game night and just stay home and hang out as a family. I have now dedicated one night a week to staying home and playing games or watching movies as a family. Even if it is only one night a week it will be time spent together as a family. I know that I am the one in control of the situation and I am the one who has signed them up for these activities, but they do things that they love to do and want to do. So I wonder does anyone else feel that there are so many activities offered for kids that it is taking the focus off of having an at home life??
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Member Comments Total Comments: 12
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stinkabinka read my blog
Aug 28, 2007 | 2:29 PM

i could not agree with you more. my kids are all out of school now but they all had so much stuff going my head just spun around. as a parent you get ran to death. ball practice, band practice etc. enough to make you scream. i was glad to see my kids involved in stuff but i think it all adds up to be so much. you never have dinner together because of a late ballgame or whatever your kiddo is into. when i was a kid we always had dinner together. we watched tv together. there was no stores open on sundays so that was a good day. grew up on a farm and we worked hard, all of us. wish i could do it all over again.
stinkabinka read my blog
Aug 28, 2007 | 2:30 PM

one last thing. there is so much homework piled on these kids that takes a big chunk out of family time also
mrmgrady read my blog view my photos
Aug 28, 2007 | 2:34 PM

On a certain day of the week, organize and schedule a "family dinner" at home. Allow the children to help in the kitchen (making it a family event) and spend as much time as you can in gentle conversation.
Weird read my blog view my photos
Aug 28, 2007 | 2:39 PM

When I was young we had one night a week that we would NOT be at home. Usually it would be Saturday night, when we would go to the movies, 35 cents per ticket, plus a dime for popcorn and a nickle for a soda. We pooled our dollar a week allowance and used the remainder for gasoline. Now we have our grandkids living here and they want to do everything. Their father has put a limit on their activities to ONE extracurricular activity per child. Last year they wanted to join the band, so we paid $800 for instruments and now they don`t want to pursue it any farther, so the musical instruments are sitting idle. Children today have too many choices about what to do and they get lost and confused about what is important. We had four channels, they think they need 200 channels. We went to town once a week, they think that we should go every night. That is one reason I try to go fishing and hunting with my grandkids. I know their father tries to spend as much time as possible with them, and so does their grandmother, but sometimes the act like we are invading their space. So you can`t win, you can only play the game as honestly as possible.
jeanette read my blog view my photos
Aug 28, 2007 | 2:43 PM

My kids weren't in alot of activities in school a few each.They always had to much homework to let them do to much after school.They couldn't handle both nor could I..We had no tv in their rooms either.We watched tv together and ate together at least 5 nights a week.2 nights (Usually Tuesday and Thursday)it was helter skelter.Working coming home and juggling everything.That was enough for me and them.
momof5 read my blog view my photos
Aug 28, 2007 | 2:44 PM

my oldest niece is the same way. i dont think its because of after school programs, i dont really know why shes like that. my kids are just fine staying home during the week, but this girl has to go go go. "Can we do this, can we do that"...its constantly. The kids know when i say "im not going anywhere" i mean it, but sures hell dont stop her from asking! Drives me crazy!!!!
jana read my blog view my photos
Aug 28, 2007 | 3:17 PM

This is so true! When I was growing up our after school activities we playing in the back yard with the neighbor, or heading over to the park. Mom would call me for dinner and we sat down and discussed our day.
Today as soon as the kids get home its hurry and do homework, and then off to whatever it is they are signed up for, and dinner is most always on the run! That was me last year.
This year I have one in College, one in high school, and one in Jr. High. So the two older ones are driving and not in sports, but into the arts. The youngest just started a new school, and this is the first year she didn't sign up for any sports. The pace has slowed down and life seems a little less crazy.
Planning family time today is just like planning anything else. We have to make it a priority. Because family is what lifes all about.
Peace girlfriend, Jana<3
old_as_the_superbowl read my blog view my photos
Aug 28, 2007 | 6:55 PM

My kids have always been and still are involved in everything. They are athletic, they are thespians, they sing, they all play multiple instruments. How DID I ever manage to do that being a single mom for thirteen years, working at the same full time job, with no public assistance for all you "two parent home schooling stay at home mommy's out there"...sorry, but I get tired of reading it blog after blog, how thats the only way to raise kids. How? You let them get involved in things. Yes, it's time consuming. Yes, it's exhausting. Yes, you have to sacrifice what you want, but it is all worth it. I have great kids and I would not change a minute of it. We are a very close family. Yes, our "family time" may have been to and from the ball field, on the bleachers at the volleyball tournament,or at a boy scout camp out, but there is no right way or wrong way to raise kids and be a family. You just have to put forth some time and effort into it...and yes, I fed my babies table food when they were 6 months old and yeah, they lived, lol : )
antsmomie read my blog view my photos
Aug 28, 2007 | 10:55 PM

Just out of curiosity how does homeschooling or public assistance have anything at all to do with this blog? I never once said anything about being stuck in a house all day with my kids nor did ever say that homeschooling or staying home with your kids was the right way to raise your kids. Me staying home is a choice that I am fortunate enough to make, but if the situation arose and I had to go back to work I would. I simply wrote this blog wondering if anyone else felt this way about their family time. More power to you and your children if you enjoy spending your family time in the car in a rush... to me personally I would rather spend time with my kids in my home not running here or there. I do enjoy the fact that they are involved in activities, but sometimes feel that it is taking its toll on what goes on at home. To me there has to be a balance between our home life and the amount of time I spend with them at their activities. There will be a point and time when I am sure I will have to draw the line and say enough is enough because to me spending quality time with my family is what is most important and to me watching them at their activities is not "quality" time. In my house family comes first and it always will. I am not saying that it doesn't come first with you, but as you said there is no right way or wrong way to raise kids and be a family...
perkypolock read my blog view my photos
Aug 29, 2007 | 8:20 AM

Hey I know what you mean.. When I use to coach Zac's soccer team it took everything from me. Plus being on the PTA board I felt I spent most of my time doing for others rather then my home. Plus, when Henry was off work I was either at practice or @ school. So, when it came time for family entertainment I was either to tired or not home. Trust me I felt as if we were drifting apart. Family time is important to me considering we use to canoe, play softball, BBQ of course, and since our society is on Super Tubor Speed I feel we are family time is disappearing.

I hear you there too Kats, I rather be home, at a park, camping with my family than spending it in my car.
michelle4wellness read my blog view my photos
Aug 29, 2007 | 10:23 AM

Katie, we think a lot alike!! The things my kids engage themselves in are things we do as a family. For instance, Faith's "sport" is her horse and she has her first rodeo that she is barrel racing in this Saturday...we are going there as a family to participate in this. Luke and Faith both love to hunt with my husband Paul, and at deer season, I am right there camping with them. We play outside together all the time....it's our personal choice to live like we do, but it is working well.
luvthykids read my blog view my photos
Aug 29, 2007 | 10:26 AM

WE as a family always eat dinner together that is a must in our family and that is when we catch up on the daily things. Of course right now we have football andcheerleading so for 4 months out of the year I don't get to eat dinner with the family because daddy feeds them early so they don't get sick with all the heat and running they do but other than that we hang out with each other ALOT and if the kids do anything they have to be home for dinner. So Kat your right iti is hard to find the time sometimes but I guess that is just the world we are in now.
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antsmomie

My name is Katie and I have 3 amazing kids who keep me very busy! I enjoy going to the Lake of the Ozarks, swimming, taking my kids to the park and whatever else I can find for us to do, going to Cardinals and Blues games, I love to be outside during the summer, but during the winter you will find me hiding inside somewhere. The cold and I don't get along. In whatever free time I can find I like to hang out with my friends, go shopping and I love to go dancing.

Member Since: 10/29/2006


 

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