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November 17, 2010
5.17: Free Day
I always swore we wouldn't over schedule our kids.
What I didn't count on was my kids over scheduling me.
Long ago, we decided that each kid would be allowed two activities. If they wanted to try something new, that was fine, but they would have to choose which of their current activities they would have to drop. Of course at the time we made this rule, we only had two kids, only one of whom was in any activities at all.
A combination of luck and parental domination has left us with two kids participating in the same activities at the exact same times each week. Sure, we spend a LOT of hours at the gym each week, but it could be a lot worse.
In the last year or two, the kids and I have added another rule about activities: We need at least one weekday without a scheduled activity. It was something I did sort of instinctually. The kids let me know I was on the right track when we shuffled schedules around and Jamie demanded a day of free play in so many words.
And so we have Wednesdays: A day to catch up on homework, do a chore or two, play with friends (if we can find any that aren't busy with their own activities,) eat a relaxed dinner at a normal time, do a little nothing and still get to bed at a decent time.
Posted by me at November 17, 2010 9:55 PM