Quote From: jshsdaddyIs ther alimit to how many activities and how often you let your child participate in. Our family is spaced out age wise,a teenager who is involved yr round in overlapping sports.Constant travel and expense,Im talking motel rooms every weekend in the summer we cant actually afford so grandma helps out now after we have exhausted and outdone ourselves completely.We havent done anything with the two younger ones 5 and 8 for going on 3 yrs now no time or money.Its tearing our family apart.The wife says she wont even speak of slowing the teenager down so there goes an arguement.The teenager says I'm agaianst her and hate her and not being supportive,personally my wife and inlaws have created a monster that controls our lives.We are on the verge of loosing everything,marriage,home etc. It seems all attention is focused on this one child.Am i being a basher as Im described
I have 3 children, ages 11, 12 & 16. My 16 year old does infact play sports year around and they do overlap. My other 2 children also play sports, but not every one. I never discourage my oldest son from playing all those sports. As long as it is affordable to us. He maintains nearly a 4.0 grade point average. If he can continue this I would never think of limiting his sports.
I have always taken my children to all sporting events that their siblings are in. Therefore when one is playing the rest of us are in the stands cheering them on. So me and my children who aren't playing are actually doing something together and truly enjoying it. We are cheering for someone that we love, together. It's like taking your child to a ballgame, of a team you both love, and cheering for them together. It's so much fun. I am there supporting the one who is playing but I am actually, in fact, spending the time with my other 2 children. And if your children have events going in 2 diffenent places at once then you go to one and your wife to the other. And then next time this happens you and your wife switch which kids events you go to.
Next time your daughter has an event, get yourself and your other kids ready and go watch her, cheer for her and be very proud of her. Make sure you envolve your younger kids in that and be sure you encourage them to be proud of her. Once you truly get yourself and your other kids involved in what your daughter is doing none of you will want to miss anything she has going on.
However never allow what you absolutely can't afford. Your wife and daughter should be able to understand if something is absolutely unaffordable. My son once wanted to join a basketball team that would cause travel and did cost alot to get into. I wanted so bad to let him do this, however we could not afford it. I sat down, explained it to him and told him how sorry I was. He said that it was ok and gave me a hug. He knew I really did want him to go but he did completely understand. If your daughter is to understand your financial situation then your wife will probably have to first.
