I'm tired of the run around

[TEF]

with the kids and their activities. kwim? I just feel like a driver and all I do is drive them from place to place and run my life around their schedules. I completely "get" that this is the life of a "Mom" but, I can admit, I am beat from it. Not to mention, how much gas I am constantly putting in my van. I swear everytime I turn on the engine the gas light is on low. :(

Sofa and I were talking today and when we were kids, our parents were not the 'drivers" all of the time. They were not that involved in our after school activities and sporting things. They were not always fans at our sporting/after school activities. We took the bus or walked/rode our bike from practice to practice, game to game. Was it like that for you, growing up?

I feel as if my kids do not "get" how much time and energy we give out to them for their activities. they take it for granted that we will always be at every game, every event, etc. On one hand I am glad they feel that way, thats one of the "parent jobs" on the other hand, I want them to realize that we do this because we love them and want to be involved and its not totally the "norm" kwim? I just want them to appreciate it more?

[Supercalafragilistic]

I know what you mean. That is exactly why Mikey and Lynny aren't doing any after school activities this year. But, they're young, and they really don't care right now.

I have to agree, though. For sports, dances, etc....my parents, and other parents would take turns driving. I can't imagine what I'm going to do when teh kids all get older :shrug

[Pezzle Stick]

When i was younger if my practice/game was close enough I would ride my bike. Other than that...usually parents would take turns bringing and picking up a few kids on the team. It is totally exhausted carting Logan to all of his different sports he plays. Thank goodness he's not playing soccer this year, so that's a little bit of a break. I can't imagine what I'll do when C & C get old enough to play sports :thud

[zak frost]

I know what you mean. I drive the kids to their activities and then I sit and wait. Alot of the homeschooling moms knit or crochet to give themselves something to do. We all sit and chitchat while the kids do their activity.

The last time they had their Mad Science classes, one of the Dad's and I went for coffee. He got a good giggle out of telling his wife that he was out with a strange woman.

[Iggy]

My mom attended every soccer game of my brother's that she could, and was the Team Mom most years. One year my father coached his team. My sisters and I went to his games too, but we usually played on the playgrounds instead of watching :lol

Annie and I did gymnastics briefly and my mom always watched us, but partly cause she was afraid of injuries :lol They didn't have any medical staff on the premises and the coach was glad to have a peds nurse in the building :lol Katie did dance, and my mom worked the front desk at the dance studio in exchange for Katie's lessons (my dad wouldn't pay for anything for us girls - the gymnastics was free on base). Then in high school my mom always went to Annie's concerts (she was a Meistersinger and a pianist), and to my art shows. My brother was the kicker for the football team in high school and my mom went to his games, then he went with my dad when they got divorced and started in track also but my dad never went of course, even when David set the state record in the pole vault. My mom would have been there but...

David was the only one who had a ton of activities. My mom tried to stay active with all of us though. We all were in Scouts. My brother is an Eagle Scout and Order of the Arrow (shocking, I know :lol), and my mom served on the Eagle Board and was Den Mother a lot. Annie and I did Girl Scouts for a few years, Katie was never into it much so she only did like a year of Brownies. My father pretty much couldn't be bothered with any of us except once when Annie won a Gold Medal scholar in Latin and he took her in to his CO, who was a Latin buff, but that was all about sucking up. That was the year he made Commander.

[Pop Tart]

TEF, I'm there with you. Just when I think "oh, this week will be slower" the activities get piled back on. We took Tristan out of Scouts this year for that reason... and baseball is 3 days a week right now, TKD... 2 boys... its a lot.

I was never in any afterschool activities until Jr. High and then I rode my bike most of the time.

It sucks :cry

[Free Bird]

Jeez, and you guys wonder why ya'll are so tired??? You have to make time for yourself too. I know it's a lot easier said than done but you can do it. I sometimes feel bad and selfish because the boys don't play any sports and Jeff and I do. The reason they don't is because their dad lives in the next county and gets them every weekend. Putting them in a sport here is an "inconvenience" for him because it cuts into his Saturday. :shrug
I feel my boys are jipped for that reason. The closest I can relate is the fact that I get up at 6:30 to get Maddy and Shawn ready, feed the twins, get S & M off to school, then get Chris up and get him off to school. The rest of the day I'm either playing on the floor with the girls, here and doing house work. Except for Tue & Thur when I take Megan to PT/OT.

My heart goes out to you guys that have so much running around to do, but I am jealous also because one day you're kids will grow up to say "My mom was the best. She took us to all our stuff and was there to watch our games/meets/whatever. "

Growing up, my parents' didn't give a rats patootie about anything I enjoyed so I either rode my bike or got a ride from a friend.

[Lilac]

Kids wont appreciate it until they are older and parents themselves. It is just the way it is.

[TEF]

Now, A & A want to join Scouts. Shoot.Me.Now.

[Lilac]

:hugs

[TheBudsMom]

I so know how you feel!! Like pp said I don't think they will see it until they become parents.
I never got to do much when I was growing up we were too po' to afford all the extra stuff and my step dad was a jerk. So now I feel like I need to try and live through my kids and let them do whatever they want to participate in.

FreeBird- What the heck!! We get our visits put on hold if my step daughter has a game during our weekend we have gone 2 months withoust seeing her because soccer, vollyball, basketball, and girls scouts are wayyyy more important than spending time with her dad. Didn't you know sports came first and can pay off in the form of scholarships:eyeroll