Active Kids

[Mr Gumbo]

Okay while there is all this knowledge on this board I'm gonna take advantage. Single mothers, married mothers and fathers, how do you juggle active kids, homework, work, home chores and whatever else comes up? My son is playing flag football and it seems after homework and then football practice by the time we get home it's already past his bedtime. Just trying to pick up some tips I never even thought about.

[afrocentric]

what are your hours on your job? who does the cooking? are you a good house cleaner? can you cook? what time do you get home? how far do you have to go? sometimes it takes time planning and patience to get things going smooth.

if you don't have time to cook, pick up something from the store thats fast and have him do his homework and while he's eatting you get his clothes ready for school the next day. when yall gets home from practice all he has to do is take a shower and straighten up his room and go to bed. on your off day you have more time to cook clean and get his clothes ready for school and get him to practice and back.

[Corals]

Originally Posted by Mr Gumbo

Okay while there is all this knowledge on this board I'm gonna take advantage. Single mothers, married mothers and fathers, how do you juggle active kids, homework, work, home chores and whatever else comes up? My son is playing flag football and it seems after homework and then football practice by the time we get home it's already past his bedtime. Just trying to pick up some tips I never even thought about.

I don't know how many days a week you both practice football, but if getting home past his bedtime is a regular occurance, you need some kind of balance. While it is good to have playing time, maybe you need to cut back on the days you both spend playing football, and use that time to relax and get to know your son better.

[Sumyr]

Mr. Gumbo, Sorry I don't have any advice as I don't have kids. But listening to some of my friends this is a problem. One of them doesn't get herself/kids to bed until 10:30-11:00 most nights.

Taking notes though for when hubby and I do have kids..............

[Mr Gumbo]

Originally Posted by afrocentric

what are your hours on your job? who does the cooking? are you a good house cleaner? can you cook? what time do you get home? how far do you have to go? sometimes it takes time planning and patience to get things going smooth.

if you don't have time to cook, pick up something from the store thats fast and have him do his homework and while he's eatting you get his clothes ready for school the next day. when yall gets home from practice all he has to do is take a shower and straighten up his room and go to bed. on your off day you have more time to cook clean and get his clothes ready for school and get him to practice and back.

My hours on the job are sometimes hectic but mostly it's 7:30 to 6:00 usually. I do all the cooking. I can clean pretty good. Yes I can cook my asz off LMAO. I get over to him about 6:20 to 6:30 on non football days and days of football I get to his practice around the same time.

I'm doing okay but I just want to see if anybody has some good tips because some people have/had multiple kids and know all the tips to make it all work. He only does football practice Tues & Thurs from 6:00 to 7:30 usually. By the time we get home it's close to 7:45-8:00 and it's straight to take a bath, eat and we go over his completed homework (grandma picks him up from school and she's good about getting that homework done). Usually I pick up some fast food on those days and I don't like that, I'm trying to wean us all off that fast food.

[Mr Gumbo]

Originally Posted by Corals

I don't know how many days a week you both practice football, but if getting home past his bedtime is a regular occurance, you need some kind of balance. While it is good to have playing time, maybe you need to cut back on the days you both spend playing football, and use that time to relax and get to know your son better.

Spoken like a woman, LMAO. Naw seriously I like him playing football and whatever other organized sport because first off it gives him something to do instead of just sitting on his butt, as he gets older it will help keep him off them streets with nothing to do but get in trouble. Also it helps him with social skills and discipline.

[Mr Gumbo]

Originally Posted by Sumyr

Mr. Gumbo, Sorry I don't have any advice as I don't have kids. But listening to some of my friends this is a problem. One of them doesn't get herself/kids to bed until 10:30-11:00 most nights.

Taking notes though for when hubby and I do have kids..............

Yeah I have some good friends that their kids don't go to bed tell 11:00/12:00 most nights.

[Its Ok 2 B Quiet]

I have three sons, two of which are playing football five days a week. How old is your son? I commute pretty far and by the time we get home its 7:15 - 8:30pm. I try to cook things that are quick or start preparation the day before if I have the energy. Between the time they get out of school and the start of practice, they need to start homework. If not done, they do it at home while I am cooking or if its small amount during drive to drop off.

While I try to keep a handle on the mess around the house during the week, our schedules just don't allow for detailed cleaning. I use paper plates to keep things to a minimum and make sure they pick up clothes or items they drop in floor. The weekend is when things get cleaned and it stays straight pretty much until about Wed/Thurs. They shower before bed or in the morning (up at 5-5:30am).

I don't like buying out all the time, but sometimes your just too tired.

[Sumyr]

My friend girl has two kids (girl, older and boy). They have soooooo much homework. By the time she gets off at 4:30, runs a few errands, makes dinner, cleans the house, gets school clothes ready, helps them with homework, they all eat, get a bath, and it is 10:30-11:00.

Hubby and I wonder how we are going to manage it all. I mean most days even without kids I don't get most things done. Today, for instance, I have to:

Stop by Wal Mart
Drive Home (7-10 Minutes)
Check on Hubby (he's sick)
Take a bath
Make dinner
Listen to hubby whine (hate it when men get sick)
Wash dishes
Vacum
Dust
Listen to hubby tell me what happened at work and what time he started feeling sick
Wash 2 loads of clothes
Dry clothes
Fold clothes
Clean both bathrooms
Sweep
Mop three rooms
Talk to my mom
Talk to my brother
Try to fit America's Next Top Model in (like the show)
And hope I get into bed by 9:30-10:00 so I won't be cranky the next day

Now where, exactly, will I find the time to fit in kids as that would double, triple my list?

[matrixone05]

Its been a while, but I tried to cook everyday (that is the one thing the ex was good about. whoever got home first started dinner). I loved sitting at the table with my kids listening to them talk about their day.

Household chores waited for Saturdays. Making up their bed and ironing were daily ones.

Friends and parents of the kids' friends helped too. Sometimes we would have to take turns picking up kids (wasn't really a carpool).

Homework...ah the dreaded homework...still had to be done. School was the most important thing and if the grades slipped, then the extracurricular things had to go.

It's tough on them, but late nighters were the only options for them a lot of nights.

People tend to think infants and toddlers take a lot of time. I used to wish for those days when my kids were in middle and high school. Activities are rough on a family schedule. Age 16 and drivers licenses were an unexpected gift.

Sumyr...its amazing how your life will change to fit in the family activities. Your priorities will change. Some days, I look at some of my friends trying to juggle the schedule and I'm glad mine are past that point, other days, I really miss it.