Wednesday, March 26, 2014

our normal ...

Swim.
Dance.
Ukulele.
Soccer.

Six days a week, I spend hours devoted to shuttling my kids from one activity to the next. Occasionally, we spend our entire day sitting on a pool deck. Or the soccer field. Or in the audience of a theater. And on the really painful days, we are so busy that I don't get to see any of it. Instead, I drop off one kid, only to get back in my car to pick up another. It's hectic. It's chaotic. It's our normal.

I'm confident that there are people who look at us and think, "That family is crazy. Always jumping from one thing to the next." And I'm sure that's what it looks like. But actually, we are quite focused. Our lives are scheduled and organized and I can say without a doubt that my kids love every second of it.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm sure it would be fabulous to not run around like mad men every afternoon. And I know my wallet would love all the money we would save if we cut out these extracurriculars. But, ultimately, it is our children's choice to do these things (and trust me, we say no to a lot of other things they want to join). They are finding things they can be passionate about. Things that keep them engaged and that bolster their self confidence. Things they really want to do now and things they talk about continuing as they age - a fact that lets me know we are making the right decision for our kids.

I've learned over the years that as much as you may try to escape it, you ultimately end up parenting a lot like you were parented. Patterns repeat themselves. J and I played sports from a young age. We were academic overachievers from day one. We learned the importance of practice, hard work and commitment early on.

Now, all these years later, I see the same things happening with our children. The characteristics of our youth that we fondly look back on are the ones we foster in our girls. We take pride in their competitive drive. We encourage them to push through when things get tough. We preach about commitment in all aspects of your lives, whether it be in athletics, academics or friendship. They are learning life lessons every time they step out onto the field, jump into the pool or perform in front of an audience. And they are learning even more about themselves in all the moments in between - in the moments when no one is watching.

Yes, we live a life that's hectic and chaotic and perhaps, even overscheduled. Sure, life could be simpler and less stressful. And I know there are a thousand other ways to go about raising your family. But, those other ways just aren't what we are about. This life is what we want. It's our normal.

12 comments:

Cook.Clean.RUN.Dream said...

I enjoy hearing about the raising of your girls. I have 4 kids (oldest is 16 and disabled, my only daughter. Then I have 3 boys closer to your girls ages). Anyway, I feel like I constantly struggle finding balance. I work full time, training for a marathon and trying to juggle motherhood with one of my children who constantly struggles in school. To make a long comment shorter, what is your homework routine?? Including, homework papers, spelling test practice, nightly reading? And how do you juggle it with three at the same time? Lastly, I've just been wondering, I thought you said awhile back that you were going to homeschool your kids, what changed your mind?

6 Pack Momma said...

I parent almost nothing like my parents did, but that is neither good or bad. I think they still did a great job & set some kind of great foundation for me to be able to rock parenting my 6 kids.


Anyway, I have 6....2 in high school, 2 in jr. high & 2 in elementary so I completely understand! I enjoy reading about how you are balancing it all. When I read your posts I'm just shaking my head....yep, yep, yep!

klinik aborsi said...

jual obat aborsi pills cytotec asli manjur untuk menggugurkan kandungan usia 1 - 6 bulan gugur tuntas.CYTOTEC OBAT ASLI sangat efektif mengatasi TELAT DATANG BULANdan menjadikan anda gagal hamil , CYTOTEC adalah OBAT ABORSI 3 JAM BERHASIL GUGUR TUNTAS dengan kwalitas terbaik produk asli pfizer nomor 1 di dunia medis

CARA MENGGUGURKAN KANDUNGAN
OBAT ABORSI DI BANDUNG
OBAT ABORSI DI BOGOR
OBAT ABORSI DI SEMARANG
OBAT ABORSI DI JAKARTA

klinik aborsi said...

jual obat aborsi pills cytotec asli manjur untuk menggugurkan kandungan usia 1 - 6 bulan gugur tuntas.CYTOTEC OBAT ASLI sangat efektif mengatasi TELAT DATANG BULANdan menjadikan anda gagal hamil , CYTOTEC adalah OBAT ABORSI 3 JAM BERHASIL GUGUR TUNTAS dengan kwalitas terbaik produk asli pfizer nomor 1 di dunia medis
OBAT ABORSI DI TULUNG AGUNG
OBAT ABORSI DI TUBAN
OBAT ABORSI DI TRENGGALEK
OBAT ABORSI DI SUMENEP
OBAT ABORSI DI SITUBONDO


klinik aborsi said...

jual obat aborsi pills cytotec asli manjur untuk menggugurkan kandungan usia 1 - 6 bulan gugur tuntas.CYTOTEC OBAT ASLI sangat efektif mengatasi TELAT DATANG BULANdan menjadikan anda gagal hamil , CYTOTEC adalah OBAT ABORSI 3 JAM BERHASIL GUGUR TUNTAS dengan kwalitas terbaik produk asli pfizer nomor 1 di dunia medis

OBAT ABORSI DI MAGETAN
OBAT ABORSI DI MADIUN
OBAT ABORSI DI LUMAJANG
OBAT ABORSI DI JOMBANG
OBAT ABORSI DI JEMBER




klinik aborsi said...

jual obat aborsi pills cytotec asli manjur untuk menggugurkan kandungan usia 1 - 6 bulan gugur tuntas.CYTOTEC OBAT ASLI sangat efektif mengatasi TELAT DATANG BULANdan menjadikan anda gagal hamil , CYTOTEC adalah OBAT ABORSI 3 JAM BERHASIL GUGUR TUNTAS dengan kwalitas terbaik produk asli pfizer nomor 1 di dunia medis

OBAT ABORSI DI GRESIK
OBAT ABORSI DI BONDOWOSO
OBAT ABORSI DI BOJONEGORO
OBAT ABORSI DI BLITAR
OBAT ABORSI DI BANGKALAN
OBAT ABORSI DI BANYUWANGI
OBAT ABORSI DI SALATIGA



klinik aborsi said...

jual obat aborsi pills cytotec asli manjur untuk menggugurkan kandungan usia 1 - 6 bulan gugur tuntas.CYTOTEC OBAT ASLI sangat efektif mengatasi TELAT DATANG BULANdan menjadikan anda gagal hamil , CYTOTEC adalah OBAT ABORSI 3 JAM BERHASIL GUGUR TUNTAS dengan kwalitas terbaik produk asli pfizer nomor 1 di dunia medis

OBAT ABORSI DI PEKALONGAN
OBAT ABORSI DI MAGELANG
OBAT ABORSI DI WONOSOBO
OBAT ABORSI DI WONOGIRI
OBAT ABORSI DI TEMANGGUNG



klinik aborsi said...

jual obat aborsi pills cytotec asli manjur untuk menggugurkan kandungan usia 1 - 6 bulan gugur tuntas.CYTOTEC OBAT ASLI sangat efektif mengatasi TELAT DATANG BULANdan menjadikan anda gagal hamil , CYTOTEC adalah OBAT ABORSI 3 JAM BERHASIL GUGUR TUNTAS dengan kwalitas terbaik produk asli pfizer nomor 1 di dunia medis

OBAT ABORSI DI SLAWI
OBAT ABORSI DI SUKOHARJO
OBAT ABORSI DI SRAGEN
OBAT ABORSI DI REMBANG
OBAT ABORSI DI PURBALINGGA
OBAT ABORSI DI PEMALANG
OBAT ABORSI DI KAJEN




klinik aborsi said...

jual obat aborsi pills cytotec asli manjur untuk menggugurkan kandungan usia 1 - 6 bulan gugur tuntas.CYTOTEC OBAT ASLI sangat efektif mengatasi TELAT DATANG BULANdan menjadikan anda gagal hamil , CYTOTEC adalah OBAT ABORSI 3 JAM BERHASIL GUGUR TUNTAS dengan kwalitas terbaik produk asli pfizer nomor 1 di dunia medis

OBAT ABORSI DI BANJARNEGARA
OBAT ABORSI AMPUH
OBAT ABORSI DI BANYUMANIK
OBAT ABORSI DI SOLO
OBAT ABORSI DI UNGARAN
OBAT ABORSI DI BANDUNGAN
OBAT ABORSI DI MALAYSIA




klinik aborsi said...

jual obat aborsi pills cytotec asli manjur untuk menggugurkan kandungan usia 1 - 6 bulan gugur tuntas.CYTOTEC OBAT ASLI sangat efektif mengatasi TELAT DATANG BULANdan menjadikan anda gagal hamil , CYTOTEC adalah OBAT ABORSI 3 JAM BERHASIL GUGUR TUNTAS dengan kwalitas terbaik produk asli pfizer nomor 1 di dunia medis


OBAT ABORSI DI BATAM
OBAT ABORSI DI LOMBOK
OBAT ABORSI DI NTB
OBAT ABORSI DI ACEH
OBAT ABORSI DI RIAU
OBAT ABORSI DI BENGKULU




klinik aborsi said...

jual obat aborsi pills cytotec asli manjur untuk menggugurkan kandungan usia 1 - 6 bulan gugur tuntas.CYTOTEC OBAT ASLI sangat efektif mengatasi TELAT DATANG BULANdan menjadikan anda gagal hamil , CYTOTEC adalah OBAT ABORSI 3 JAM BERHASIL GUGUR TUNTAS dengan kwalitas terbaik produk asli pfizer nomor 1 di dunia medis


OBAT ABORSI DI JAMBI
OBAT ABORSI DI BANGKALAN
OBAT ABORSI DI MAKASSAR
OBAT ABORSI DI SULAWESI
ALAMAT PENJUAL OBAT ABORSI
JUAL OBAT ABORSI DI SOLO


klinik aborsi said...

jual obat aborsi pills cytotec asli manjur untuk menggugurkan kandungan usia 1 - 6 bulan gugur tuntas.CYTOTEC OBAT ASLI sangat efektif mengatasi TELAT DATANG BULANdan menjadikan anda gagal hamil , CYTOTEC adalah OBAT ABORSI 3 JAM BERHASIL GUGUR TUNTAS dengan kwalitas terbaik produk asli pfizer nomor 1 di dunia medis

JUAL OBAT ABORSI DI SURABAYA
JUAL OBAT ABORSI DI BANDUNG
JUAL OBAT ABORSI DI KUDUS
JUAL OBAT ABORSI DI DEPOK
JUAL OBAT ABORSI DI JAKARTA
JUAL OBAT ABORSI DI BANTEN
JUAL OBAT ABORSI DI SERANG