Struggling with balancing activities/down time

[emily31]

I am having a really hard time trying to figure out what our weekly schedule is going to be this fall. DH is not totally on board with continuing to HS. He was pushing for me to enroll older dd in PS (8 yr old), but I finally convinced him to let us try a co-op (social reasons).

My younger dd had been in preschool 2x weekly, but her best friends are moving to MWF, so she is too (already asked for just MW only, but not an option). It's a huge struggle for her to wake early and get out the door. Last year she went from 9-2, and this year I think I will do 9-12 M/F, and 9-2 Wed. I need that long day for my orthodontist appts, PT job, etc.

So she will have to go to school those days, and then co-op on Tues, and then an art class which she loves on Thursdays.That leaves us without any days to stay in, just to be home doing art projects and play which is very important to me. I've looked for other co-ops that meet MWF while younger dd is at school, but no luck.

Older dd's schedule is very balanced, but I hate having younger dd (4 1/2) in so many morning activities. Younger dd also really wants to continue gymnastics and soccer. She loves to be busy, but just doesn't do very well without down time (lots of tantrums etc).Any advice or input on what I have so far?

[pageta]

I must confess, I've come to where I have to put limits on how many times we leave the house each week. We just get worn out and don't accomplish much when we have appts in town on too many days. So I've limited our activities and turned down offers more than once. So I completely understand how you feel.

With that said, if spending at least one day AT HOME is important to you, then you have to look at your schedule and decide what is LEAST important to you or what could be accomplished via other means. On that account, I have no advice. Only understanding.

[Wilhemina]

I too sympathize. I desperately try to keep Mondays appt./class/out of the house/playdate free. It is surprisingly difficult!

One idea, just because you pay for MWF doesn't mean she has to actually go those days. You could take say every other Friday off.

[emily31]

Originally Posted by Wilhemina

I too sympathize. I desperately try to keep Mondays appt./class/out of the house/playdate free. It is surprisingly difficult!

One idea, just because you pay for MWF doesn't mean she has to actually go those days. You could take say every other Friday off.

That's a good point. I think we will have several sick days or out of town days this fall. Also, I think I will let her go to gymnastics in September, since soccer starts late September, and then have a break from gymnastics in October. I might do the same thing with her painting/art class. Her art teacher might let us pay for one month and spread attendance over two months.

[Brisen]

What is your weekend like? Could you make one of those days an at-home school day?

[Lysa]

We do much better when we have THREE full days at home for "school stuff", so we can make sure we have relaxed time here to explore. Right now we don't have anything set for a specific day, so we can take advantage of local groups, etc., but I have to be careful not to overload us. (But September won't look like this, as the standard world will start up again.)
If you are trying to educate the younger one at home on top of her attending preschool, I could see where *I* would become very overwhelmed with having to have her out the door 5 days a week for outside education, plus trying to find time for her at home, but at the minimum educating the older one. (But for me, that would mean a 15 minute drive to anywhere, meaning I've lost one hour just to drop off and pick up from preschool each day, 2-3 days a week. It might be 15 min round trip for you.)
If it were me, I think I'd look at my goals for my child, as well as my goals for my family, and make sure that the activities were in line with those goals. What goals are you able to meet at home, and which goals do you need outside assistance to meet? Once you have identified that, is there excess?
GL!