"I'm Done Making My Kid's Childhood Magical" (1 Viewer)

[ChiefD]

Man, so many topics in this thread. A good one to be sure.

As for my kids, from day one it's been about playing in the dirt. They would much rather go camping than watch video games. They love to fish, hike, and play football in the backyard.

They get to play one sport at a time, and we take a break as a family in the winter. They don't want to play much sports in the summer because they wouldn't get to fish and hike as much. As parents, this is how we have lived, and our choices have as much to do with financial as anything else.

We can afford to camp and fish - we can't afford - yet, to go on long vacations. But it's also part of our plan - in a year or two when our youngest daughter is old enough we will start taking a second vacation each year to either a National Park or a historic part of America (Washington DC, for example).

We do let them play video games, but only for a certain part of each day. They don't watch much movies, so Disney probably is out in the future.

Heck, our goal is to be with our kids. Love them, give them as many opportunities as we can afford. Just like all the other parents out there. How they do it is their business, and I don't begrudge them one bit.

 

[shuke]

I struggle with the idea of setting my kids up for success. You know deep down that you have to let them fail frequently in order to get better, but it's an uncomfortable position as their parent to watch them struggle / learn lessons the hard way. It's something I never really thought about before being a dad. I rely on trusting my gut and 'I'll know when I see it'. If I wasn't such an idiot, I wouldn't feel uncomfortable with this.

It's really the most difficult part of parenting. I have told my son this year (4th grade), that I'm no longer checking his homework. Yes, I'll review it to make sure he understands the concepts and will answer his questions, but for a while we were checking every question/problem, making sure he got it right. It's his responsibility to double check his work.

 

[shuke]

I have little kids (4 & 2)

Do todays parents really sit around at practices and wait?

I think the difference nowadays is that kids are getting involved at much younger ages, 3 or 4, in organized sports. You don't drop off a kid that young and leave. So I think parents just get used to staying at practice. But I can't imagine that parents stick around as kids get older. I coached my son's baseball team a few years ago, kids were probably 8. Most parents did not stay at practice.

 

[El Floppo]

I struggle with the idea of setting my kids up for success. You know deep down that you have to let them fail frequently in order to get better, but it's an uncomfortable position as their parent to watch them struggle / learn lessons the hard way. It's something I never really thought about before being a dad. I rely on trusting my gut and 'I'll know when I see it'. If I wasn't such an idiot, I wouldn't feel uncomfortable with this.

It's really the most difficult part of parenting. I have told my son this year (4th grade), that I'm no longer checking his homework. Yes, I'll review it to make sure he understands the concepts and will answer his questions, but for a while we were checking every question/problem, making sure he got it right. It's his responsibility to double check his work.

just starting to go through this now with our 2nd grader. waffling about how much to check it, as it's the first year he's getting any "real" homework. don't want him to rely on us as editors, but also want to make sure he gets what's going on.

and it's another case of- my parents never did this... looked at my homework.

 

[NutterButter]

I have little kids (4 & 2)

Do todays parents really sit around at practices and wait?

My kids are 6 & 8 - we've been doing the drop-off for 2+ years and I'm still very appreciative if someone else is going to watch our kids for more than an hour. I'll stay at their practice if I'm going to be helping out the coaches, but no way I'm staying to just watch.

One of my daughter does cheerleading in the fall at youth football games and I can't believe that sometimes I'm there to watch someone watch a football game.

A lot of it depends on the weather as well. If its a nice day out, I'll just bring a chair and enjoy the day. I have my phone with me so I can do all the reading and surfing I want. Its pretty much what I'd do most of the time regardless especially when I know I only have a few hours to work with.

 

[El Floppo]

I have little kids (4 & 2)

Do todays parents really sit around at practices and wait?

I think the difference nowadays is that kids are getting involved at much younger ages, 3 or 4, in organized sports. You don't drop off a kid that young and leave. So I think parents just get used to staying at practice. But I can't imagine that parents stick around as kids get older. I coached my son's baseball team a few years ago, kids were probably 8. Most parents did not stay at practice.

I think ALL of the things are happening much earlier for kids- we're (collectively) putting toddlers into classes and school of all kinds. I remember having a part time preschool when I was 3- and then nursery school when I was 4.. but other than that, not a single class- just lots of playing and running around.

 

[shuke]

I struggle with the idea of setting my kids up for success. You know deep down that you have to let them fail frequently in order to get better, but it's an uncomfortable position as their parent to watch them struggle / learn lessons the hard way. It's something I never really thought about before being a dad. I rely on trusting my gut and 'I'll know when I see it'. If I wasn't such an idiot, I wouldn't feel uncomfortable with this.

It's really the most difficult part of parenting. I have told my son this year (4th grade), that I'm no longer checking his homework. Yes, I'll review it to make sure he understands the concepts and will answer his questions, but for a while we were checking every question/problem, making sure he got it right. It's his responsibility to double check his work.

just starting to go through this now with our 2nd grader. waffling about how much to check it, as it's the first year he's getting any "real" homework. don't want him to rely on us as editors, but also want to make sure he gets what's going on.

and it's another case of- my parents never did this... looked at my homework.

I think paying closer attention now is fine until he learns how to do homework and study.

 

[Bruce Dickinson]

I have little kids (4 & 2)

Do todays parents really sit around at practices and wait?

My kids are 6 & 8 - we've been doing the drop-off for 2+ years and I'm still very appreciative if someone else is going to watch our kids for more than an hour. I'll stay at their practice if I'm going to be helping out the coaches, but no way I'm staying to just watch.One of my daughter does cheerleading in the fall at youth football games and I can't believe that sometimes I'm there to watch someone watch a football game.

A lot of it depends on the weather as well. If its a nice day out, I'll just bring a chair and enjoy the day. I have my phone with me so I can do all the reading and surfing I want. Its pretty much what I'd do most of the time regardless especially when I know I only have a few hours to work with.

When my daughter was 5-6 and playing rec soccer with one-hour practices one day a week, the practice hour was a social time for the dads. The weather was usually nice, we would bring chairs, sometimes a six-pack would materialize, and we would stay and bull#### for an hour instead of leaving to come back a few minutes later.

As the kids got older, sports got more competitive, and practice times got longer and more frequent, my practice attendance went way down. Can't imagine missing a game, meet, match, or whatever the competitions are called. And not out of any parental obligation or desire to make childhood magical. I love watching her compete.

 

[Brony]

I struggle with the idea of setting my kids up for success. You know deep down that you have to let them fail frequently in order to get better, but it's an uncomfortable position as their parent to watch them struggle / learn lessons the hard way. It's something I never really thought about before being a dad. I rely on trusting my gut and 'I'll know when I see it'. If I wasn't such an idiot, I wouldn't feel uncomfortable with this.

It's really the most difficult part of parenting. I have told my son this year (4th grade), that I'm no longer checking his homework. Yes, I'll review it to make sure he understands the concepts and will answer his questions, but for a while we were checking every question/problem, making sure he got it right. It's his responsibility to double check his work.

just starting to go through this now with our 2nd grader. waffling about how much to check it, as it's the first year he's getting any "real" homework. don't want him to rely on us as editors, but also want to make sure he gets what's going on.

and it's another case of- my parents never did this... looked at my homework.

The tough thing is that I want to be the parent that could care less about the homework completeness/accuracy but wants to take the time to explain the concept/bigger idea... But when the 3rd grader is #####ing and moaning and whining about the homework after dinner cause she was out at gymnastics all afternoon, I just want to plow through the homework and be done with it. It's gotten better, but this is one case where it's hard to be the good parent.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Oh, forgot to add...when is the age of specialization for sports? Can't believe how kids are on travel teams by age 9.

RELATED: My youngest has been in ballet for 8 semesters (she is 6 years, 3 months old). At the end of Spring we have to decide whether to go into a pre-professional ballet. She would audition at either at our current school or SAB.

The other option is to just take ballet classes for enrichment. Right now she does formal ballet training once a week, and also has weekly just-for-fun classes in modern dance, ballet and tap dance. Up until now my focus has just been exposing her to different activities through after school programs. Kind of blows me away we are potentially picking her livelihood in first grade.

Anyway, leaving that totally up to her. I've started to mention it because her current teacher has been talking to them about auditions, but we have a few months before we have to make a call one way or another.

Overbooked? This is her typical week (none of these are during regular school times):

M: Modern Dance, Archery

Tu: Microbiology, Clay

W: Ballet, Singing + piano lesson at home

Th: Yoga, Karate

F: Tap Dance, Painting

Sa: Ballet

Su: Cooking, Mandarin, Jazz Choir

I think that looks / sounds much worse than it actually is.

10 of those are After School programs (everything M-F except piano), which tend to be no pressure enrichment type environments. Its really just introductory exposure. She has the option to opt out of any of them if she doesn't feel like going - when she does that she just goes to a general playtime/crafts & games class.

Cooking + Chinese are consecutive classes at the same school, but I'm definitely thinking of dropping choir because it feels like a bit too much.

First grader. I'm a horrible parent, amirite?

 

[gianmarco]

I struggle with the idea of setting my kids up for success. You know deep down that you have to let them fail frequently in order to get better, but it's an uncomfortable position as their parent to watch them struggle / learn lessons the hard way. It's something I never really thought about before being a dad. I rely on trusting my gut and 'I'll know when I see it'. If I wasn't such an idiot, I wouldn't feel uncomfortable with this.

It's really the most difficult part of parenting. I have told my son this year (4th grade), that I'm no longer checking his homework. Yes, I'll review it to make sure he understands the concepts and will answer his questions, but for a while we were checking every question/problem, making sure he got it right. It's his responsibility to double check his work.

We went through this exact same thing. I wanted him to do it on his own and my wife wanted to make sure we checked everything and thought it was OUR fault if he went to school without having done his homework.

Luckily, the school has actually requested that the kids do it on their own to "encourage independence" since last year (3rd grade). It's ok for them to ask us a question, but if we are helping, they actually want us to write a note saying what we helped with. Otherwise, they assume he fully understands the subject matter and it could hurt him later on. Because of this policy, she's finally on board with letting him do his own work. Of course, we still have to ask every single day "do you have homework?" to make sure he remembers to get it done, but he's actually very good about that on his own. He will forget an occasional assignment, but as the teachers have stated, EVERY kid has done that. So now in 4th grade, he's very independent when it comes to that.

And once again, I look back at my own childhood and I can't remember a single time my parent's helped me with my homework or checked it or looked for any errors. And it was not uncommon for me to do it on the bus or in school prior to the class and yet still get it done. That said, whenever he asks me for help, which is very rare, I'm glad to do so and can offer up something that he may not have learned in school. My biggest thing when looking over any homework he does is actually asking him "is this the best that you can do" (usually in terms of neatness) to remind him to always put forth the best effort he can. As that has always been his biggest weakness, I find that far more important from my end than fixing an individual problem that he might get wrong.

 

[Thorn]

Oh, forgot to add...when is the age of specialization for sports? Can't believe how kids are on travel teams by age 9.

RELATED: My youngest has been in ballet for 8 semesters (she is 6 years, 3 months old). At the end of Spring we have to decide whether to go into a pre-professional ballet. She would audition at either at our current school or SAB.

The other option is to just take ballet classes for enrichment. Right now she does formal ballet training once a week, and also has weekly just-for-fun classes in modern dance, ballet and tap dance. Up until now my focus has just been exposing her to different activities through after school programs. Kind of blows me away we are potentially picking her livelihood in first grade.

Anyway, leaving that totally up to her. I've started to mention it because her current teacher has been talking to them about auditions, but we have a few months before we have to make a call one way or another.

Overbooked? This is her typical week (none of these are during regular school times):

M: Modern Dance, Archery

Tu: Microbiology, Clay

W: Ballet, Singing + piano lesson at home

Th: Yoga, Karate

F: Tap Dance, Painting

Sa: Ballet

Su: Cooking, Mandarin, Jazz Choir

I think that looks / sounds much worse than it actually is.

10 of those are After School programs (everything M-F except piano), which tend to be no pressure enrichment type environments. Its really just introductory exposure. She has the option to opt out of any of them if she doesn't feel like going - when she does that she just goes to a general playtime/crafts & games class.

Cooking + Chinese are consecutive classes at the same school, but I'm definitely thinking of dropping choir because it feels like a bit too much.

First grader. I'm a horrible parent, amirite?

You're in NYC, right? How does she get to these?

 

[Clifford]

I agree. It's crazy what some people do for their kids. But you know what, a lot of people are still self absorbed facebook addicts who don't do it for the kids, but for the "likes."

I know a lot of parents who don't do #### with their kids, no fund raising for school, never play a board game, don't help with homework, nothing. Is that better?

She basically admits this in paragraph #4

For a few years, I got caught up in the "Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better" parenting model, which mandates you scour Pinterest for the best ideas, execute them flawlessly, and then share the photo evidence with strangers and friends via blogs and Facebook posts.

 

[(HULK)]

Amazing stories in this thread. The thing about practice cracks me up. See this every weekend in non-sport activities: ballet, Mandarin, Jazz Choir. They're in another room, unseen. These are NOT toddlers. You've got 60-90 minutes to chill, run errands, shop, whatever. And I'm the only parent at each class to slap it high and walk out of there, while they sit there staring at their mobile device.

My daughters both do ballet. Its behind closed doors. I don't think anyone stays, but I wouldn't know, because I send them into the room and then immediately throw ninja dust and escape into the Costco right next door.

 

[NajehHejan]

i agree with some of her points here, to an extent. But she goes overboard repeatedly bashing ideas gathered from Pinterest. It almost makes me feel like she has tried some of those crafts but failed miserably. i think she stinks at arts and crafts and is jealous of the moms who are good at it so she went off the deep end with this article.

 

[(HULK)]

Several recent 4 year old birthday parties I've been to (parents MUST stay w/ the kids) have had themed snacks. Like the Frozen themed one had pretzel sticks labeled "Olaf's Arms" and the Cars themed one had twizzlers labeled "Lightning's Tire Tracks". And there are like 10 different snacks, each tied into the theme somehow.

And the kid is turning 4 and can't read.

I don't get why we do this to ourselves. I won't be doing that for my kids... not because I don't love them, but because its inane.

 

[El Floppo]

Oh, forgot to add...when is the age of specialization for sports? Can't believe how kids are on travel teams by age 9.

RELATED: My youngest has been in ballet for 8 semesters (she is 6 years, 3 months old). At the end of Spring we have to decide whether to go into a pre-professional ballet. She would audition at either at our current school or SAB.

The other option is to just take ballet classes for enrichment. Right now she does formal ballet training once a week, and also has weekly just-for-fun classes in modern dance, ballet and tap dance. Up until now my focus has just been exposing her to different activities through after school programs. Kind of blows me away we are potentially picking her livelihood in first grade.

Anyway, leaving that totally up to her. I've started to mention it because her current teacher has been talking to them about auditions, but we have a few months before we have to make a call one way or another.

Overbooked? This is her typical week (none of these are during regular school times):

M: Modern Dance, Archery

Tu: Microbiology, Clay

W: Ballet, Singing + piano lesson at home

Th: Yoga, Karate

F: Tap Dance, Painting

Sa: Ballet

Su: Cooking, Mandarin, Jazz Choir

I think that looks / sounds much worse than it actually is.

10 of those are After School programs (everything M-F except piano), which tend to be no pressure enrichment type environments. Its really just introductory exposure. She has the option to opt out of any of them if she doesn't feel like going - when she does that she just goes to a general playtime/crafts & games class.

Cooking + Chinese are consecutive classes at the same school, but I'm definitely thinking of dropping choir because it feels like a bit too much.

First grader. I'm a horrible parent, amirite?

You're in NYC, right? How does she get to these?

jet ski

so I understand- m-f, all of those things are at her school's after-school program? or is she having to go to different places for each of them? if the latter, then ... if the former- no.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Oh, forgot to add...when is the age of specialization for sports? Can't believe how kids are on travel teams by age 9.

RELATED: My youngest has been in ballet for 8 semesters (she is 6 years, 3 months old). At the end of Spring we have to decide whether to go into a pre-professional ballet. She would audition at either at our current school or SAB.

The other option is to just take ballet classes for enrichment. Right now she does formal ballet training once a week, and also has weekly just-for-fun classes in modern dance, ballet and tap dance. Up until now my focus has just been exposing her to different activities through after school programs. Kind of blows me away we are potentially picking her livelihood in first grade.

Anyway, leaving that totally up to her. I've started to mention it because her current teacher has been talking to them about auditions, but we have a few months before we have to make a call one way or another.

Overbooked? This is her typical week (none of these are during regular school times):

M: Modern Dance, Archery

Tu: Microbiology, Clay

W: Ballet, Singing + piano lesson at home

Th: Yoga, Karate

F: Tap Dance, Painting

Sa: Ballet

Su: Cooking, Mandarin, Jazz Choir

I think that looks / sounds much worse than it actually is.

10 of those are After School programs (everything M-F except piano), which tend to be no pressure enrichment type environments. Its really just introductory exposure. She has the option to opt out of any of them if she doesn't feel like going - when she does that she just goes to a general playtime/crafts & games class.

Cooking + Chinese are consecutive classes at the same school, but I'm definitely thinking of dropping choir because it feels like a bit too much.

First grader. I'm a horrible parent, amirite?

You're in NYC, right? How does she get to these?

jet ski

so I understand- m-f, all of those things are at her school's after-school program? or is she having to go to different places for each of them? if the latter, then ... if the former- no.

Everything is at PS 3 M-F except for piano. They pick her up from class at dismissal and take her to the "3 'til 6" program.

It's a public school but since it's in an affluent neighborhood (NOTE: we don't live there, we commute from midtown - about 25 minutes by bus), the PTA pours about $500K into the After School program. The enrichment programs weighed heavily in the decision to apply there.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Oh, forgot to add...when is the age of specialization for sports? Can't believe how kids are on travel teams by age 9.

RELATED: My youngest has been in ballet for 8 semesters (she is 6 years, 3 months old). At the end of Spring we have to decide whether to go into a pre-professional ballet. She would audition at either at our current school or SAB.

The other option is to just take ballet classes for enrichment. Right now she does formal ballet training once a week, and also has weekly just-for-fun classes in modern dance, ballet and tap dance. Up until now my focus has just been exposing her to different activities through after school programs. Kind of blows me away we are potentially picking her livelihood in first grade.

Anyway, leaving that totally up to her. I've started to mention it because her current teacher has been talking to them about auditions, but we have a few months before we have to make a call one way or another.

Overbooked? This is her typical week (none of these are during regular school times):

M: Modern Dance, Archery

Tu: Microbiology, Clay

W: Ballet, Singing + piano lesson at home

Th: Yoga, Karate

F: Tap Dance, Painting

Sa: Ballet

Su: Cooking, Mandarin, Jazz Choir

I think that looks / sounds much worse than it actually is.

10 of those are After School programs (everything M-F except piano), which tend to be no pressure enrichment type environments. Its really just introductory exposure. She has the option to opt out of any of them if she doesn't feel like going - when she does that she just goes to a general playtime/crafts & games class.

Cooking + Chinese are consecutive classes at the same school, but I'm definitely thinking of dropping choir because it feels like a bit too much.

First grader. I'm a horrible parent, amirite?

You're in NYC, right? How does she get to these?

Subway, dude. She's a tough kid.

All in house, run a separate entity that contracts with the PTA. We do have a yellow school bus option but we'll probably escort her for at least a few more years. But I do see K/1 kids taking the bus by themselves.

 

[El Floppo]

Oh, forgot to add...when is the age of specialization for sports? Can't believe how kids are on travel teams by age 9.

RELATED: My youngest has been in ballet for 8 semesters (she is 6 years, 3 months old). At the end of Spring we have to decide whether to go into a pre-professional ballet. She would audition at either at our current school or SAB.

The other option is to just take ballet classes for enrichment. Right now she does formal ballet training once a week, and also has weekly just-for-fun classes in modern dance, ballet and tap dance. Up until now my focus has just been exposing her to different activities through after school programs. Kind of blows me away we are potentially picking her livelihood in first grade.

Anyway, leaving that totally up to her. I've started to mention it because her current teacher has been talking to them about auditions, but we have a few months before we have to make a call one way or another.

Overbooked? This is her typical week (none of these are during regular school times):

M: Modern Dance, Archery

Tu: Microbiology, Clay

W: Ballet, Singing + piano lesson at home

Th: Yoga, Karate

F: Tap Dance, Painting

Sa: Ballet

Su: Cooking, Mandarin, Jazz Choir

I think that looks / sounds much worse than it actually is.

10 of those are After School programs (everything M-F except piano), which tend to be no pressure enrichment type environments. Its really just introductory exposure. She has the option to opt out of any of them if she doesn't feel like going - when she does that she just goes to a general playtime/crafts & games class.

Cooking + Chinese are consecutive classes at the same school, but I'm definitely thinking of dropping choir because it feels like a bit too much.

First grader. I'm a horrible parent, amirite?

You're in NYC, right? How does she get to these?

jet ski

so I understand- m-f, all of those things are at her school's after-school program? or is she having to go to different places for each of them? if the latter, then ... if the former- no.

Everything is at PS 3 M-F except for piano. They pick her up from class at dismissal and take her to the "3 'til 6" program.

It's a public school but since it's in an affluent neighborhood (NOTE: we don't live there, we commute from midtown - about 25 minutes by bus), the PTA pours about $500K into the After School program. The enrichment programs weighed heavily in the decision to apply there.

awesome.

fwiw- 2nd grade floppinho is doing the following after-school stuff at school: model-airplanes eyeroll: his choice) and rock band (real instruments, not video game- they're playing Radioactive at a show coming to your town soon). we had to pay for both of those (albeit, not much). he also takes a theater class, drumming lessons outside of school and piano lessons at home. along with weekend soccer. I feel like we're at the extreme low end of after school activities- even though it seems like a lot, IMO. most of his peers are booked solid M-F and even on weekends.

eta: that said- Mrs Floppo still doesn't work ( ) and is free to take him around to things after school because, as somebody mentioned, he's still little and it's big city out there. if she were working, he'd likely be in afterschool M-F, or maybe we'd have money for a nanny who could take him to these things.

 

[Annyong]

I put together this Hot Wheels track that sends the monster truck down a ramp and destroys a bus. I later added about 5 more feet of track for maximum destruction. :magical:

 

[SWC]

one time my old man checked my homework and then just threw it out and said he would rather me not turn it in and be accused of not doing it than show the teacher what i had done when i actually tried man those were the days i am pretty sure i stole a beer or three from his garage fridge that night and drank it off fourth grade was rough bromigos take that to the bank ps i am just joking around about the beers that did not happen

 

[BobbyLayne]

I put together this Hot Wheels track that sends the monster truck down a ramp and destroys a bus. I later added about 5 more feet of track for maximum destruction. :magical:

I bought my daughter Battleship, a slot car set and a bunch of Star Wars lego sets (setting her up for the Millenium Falcon next year).

She had the nerve to complain that Santa got her list mixed up with a boy.

 

[Zow]

one time my old man checked my homework and then just threw it out and said he would rather me not turn it in and be accused of not

doing it than show the teacher what i had done

when i actually tried man those were the days i am pretty sure i stole a beer or three from his garage fridge that night and drank it off fourth grade was rough bromigos take that to the bank

ps i am just joking around about the beers that did not happen

I'm assuming it was grammar homework?

 

[Annyong]

I put together this Hot Wheels track that sends the monster truck down a ramp and destroys a bus. I later added about 5 more feet of track for maximum destruction. :magical:

I bought my daughter Battleship, a slot car set and a bunch of Star Wars lego sets (setting her up for the Millenium Falcon next year).

She had the nerve to complain that Santa got her list mixed up with a boy.

Wtf

 

[BobbyLayne]

I put together this Hot Wheels track that sends the monster truck down a ramp and destroys a bus. I later added about 5 more feet of track for maximum destruction. :magical:

I bought my daughter Battleship, a slot car set and a bunch of Star Wars lego sets (setting her up for the Millenium Falcon next year).

She had the nerve to complain that Santa got her list mixed up with a boy.

Wtf

Well, I did actually get her Battleship. About 10 minutes into our first game she asked if we could play something else. And I did get her Legos (Friends or whatever that girly series is). No slot cars. Had it in my hands, though, just didn't pull the trigger.

 

[El Floppo]

we got more Frozen crap from the inlaws for 3yo Floppinho than can be imagined. I feel dirty.

 

[comfortably numb]

we got more Frozen crap from the inlaws for 3yo Floppinho than can be imagined. I feel dirty.

You should..........LET IT GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[El Floppo]

we got more Frozen crap from the inlaws for 3yo Floppinho than can be imagined. I feel dirty.

You should..........LET IT GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't follow.

 

[Doug B]

we got more Frozen crap from the inlaws for 3yo Floppinho than can be imagined. I feel dirty.

You should..........LET IT GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't follow.

So ... El Floppo ... I take it your 2-year mission to Mars was a success

 

[The Commish]

Amazing stories in this thread. The thing about practice cracks me up. See this every weekend in non-sport activities: ballet, Mandarin, Jazz Choir. They're in another room, unseen. These are NOT toddlers. You've got 60-90 minutes to chill, run errands, shop, whatever. And I'm the only parent at each class to slap it high and walk out of there, while they sit there staring at their mobile device.

My daughters both do ballet. Its behind closed doors. I don't think anyone stays, but I wouldn't know, because I send them into the room and then immediately throw ninja dust and escape into the Costco right next door.

This is something that really irritates me. My little girl is in dance as well and we aren't allowed to watch them. I get that we can be a distraction etc, but at least put a camera up or a two way mirror or something. I personally think dance is the biggest scam going. They go all year. We can't watch. Pay for all these recital costumes and the monthly lessons. We go to said recital to see if they are learning anything at all. It's so bizarre. By the time of the recital you've paid hundreds of dollars in hopes that your child isn't the one standing there staring at everyone in the audience..

 

[Ned]

I struggle with the idea of setting my kids up for success. You know deep down that you have to let them fail frequently in order to get better, but it's an uncomfortable position as their parent to watch them struggle / learn lessons the hard way. It's something I never really thought about before being a dad. I rely on trusting my gut and 'I'll know when I see it'. If I wasn't such an idiot, I wouldn't feel uncomfortable with this.

It's really the most difficult part of parenting. I have told my son this year (4th grade), that I'm no longer checking his homework. Yes, I'll review it to make sure he understands the concepts and will answer his questions, but for a while we were checking every question/problem, making sure he got it right. It's his responsibility to double check his work.

just starting to go through this now with our 2nd grader. waffling about how much to check it, as it's the first year he's getting any "real" homework. don't want him to rely on us as editors, but also want to make sure he gets what's going on.

and it's another case of- my parents never did this... looked at my homework.

We just started this with our 2nd grader too. He knows to come to us if he's stuck, but otherwise he's on his own. I played the trust card with him when we told him he is responsible for his own work. I'm a bit torn on it since my parents never checked on me either and I ended up slacking off to the point I could barely play sports in HS due to poor grades. I'm selfishly thrilled we don't have to check any more. I hated doing it.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Amazing stories in this thread. The thing about practice cracks me up. See this every weekend in non-sport activities: ballet, Mandarin, Jazz Choir. They're in another room, unseen. These are NOT toddlers. You've got 60-90 minutes to chill, run errands, shop, whatever. And I'm the only parent at each class to slap it high and walk out of there, while they sit there staring at their mobile device.

My daughters both do ballet. Its behind closed doors. I don't think anyone stays, but I wouldn't know, because I send them into the room and then immediately throw ninja dust and escape into the Costco right next door.

This is something that really irritates me. My little girl is in dance as well and we aren't allowed to watch them. I get that we can be a distraction etc, but at least put a camera up or a two way mirror or something. I personally think dance is the biggest scam going. They go all year. We can't watch. Pay for all these recital costumes and the monthly lessons. We go to said recital to see if they are learning anything at all. It's so bizarre. By the time of the recital you've paid hundreds of dollars in hopes that your child isn't the one standing there staring at everyone in the audience..

Does your school keep a credit card on file? Love that.

I love the costume scam. $60 and turns out the same damn thing can be ordered online for like $16.

And no, I didn't confront them - why would I do that when I can take the passive aggressive route of venting on a fantasy football board?

 

[The Commish]

Amazing stories in this thread. The thing about practice cracks me up. See this every weekend in non-sport activities: ballet, Mandarin, Jazz Choir. They're in another room, unseen. These are NOT toddlers. You've got 60-90 minutes to chill, run errands, shop, whatever. And I'm the only parent at each class to slap it high and walk out of there, while they sit there staring at their mobile device.

My daughters both do ballet. Its behind closed doors. I don't think anyone stays, but I wouldn't know, because I send them into the room and then immediately throw ninja dust and escape into the Costco right next door.

This is something that really irritates me. My little girl is in dance as well and we aren't allowed to watch them. I get that we can be a distraction etc, but at least put a camera up or a two way mirror or something. I personally think dance is the biggest scam going. They go all year. We can't watch. Pay for all these recital costumes and the monthly lessons. We go to said recital to see if they are learning anything at all. It's so bizarre. By the time of the recital you've paid hundreds of dollars in hopes that your child isn't the one standing there staring at everyone in the audience..

Does your school keep a credit card on file? Love that.

I love the costume scam. $60 and turns out the same damn thing can be ordered online for like $16.

And no, I didn't confront them - why would I do that when I can take the passive aggressive route of venting on a fantasy football board?

HELL NO!!!!!!!!!!!! I do cash only...sometimes a check. I have no idea how many costumes my $195 is buying but I'm pretty sure I could get them all online (as you say) for $50

 

[SWC]

one time my old man checked my homework and then just threw it out and said he would rather me not turn it in and be accused of not

doing it than show the teacher what i had done

when i actually tried man those were the days i am pretty sure i stole a beer or three from his garage fridge that night and drank it off fourth grade was rough bromigos take that to the bank

ps i am just joking around about the beers that did not happen

I'm assuming it was grammar homework?

hey man leave me alone that garage frige is long gone and i aint got nowhere to turn now take that to the bank brohans

 

[Zow]

one time my old man checked my homework and then just threw it out and said he would rather me not turn it in and be accused of not

doing it than show the teacher what i had done

when i actually tried man those were the days i am pretty sure i stole a beer or three from his garage fridge that night and drank it off fourth grade was rough bromigos take that to the bank

ps i am just joking around about the beers that did not happen

I'm assuming it was grammar homework?

hey man leave me alone that garage frige is long gone and i aint got nowhere to turn now take that to the bank brohans

Just joshing with you, my favorite ibroseph. Would never disrespect the ol' SWC'er.

 

[ghostguy123]

It only took a few post to get the "you rather I just dont talk to or care for my kids" posts.

Man this forum is going to #### faster than ever before.

 

[NutterButter]

Amazing stories in this thread. The thing about practice cracks me up. See this every weekend in non-sport activities: ballet, Mandarin, Jazz Choir. They're in another room, unseen. These are NOT toddlers. You've got 60-90 minutes to chill, run errands, shop, whatever. And I'm the only parent at each class to slap it high and walk out of there, while they sit there staring at their mobile device.

My daughters both do ballet. Its behind closed doors. I don't think anyone stays, but I wouldn't know, because I send them into the room and then immediately throw ninja dust and escape into the Costco right next door.

This is something that really irritates me. My little girl is in dance as well and we aren't allowed to watch them. I get that we can be a distraction etc, but at least put a camera up or a two way mirror or something. I personally think dance is the biggest scam going. They go all year. We can't watch. Pay for all these recital costumes and the monthly lessons. We go to said recital to see if they are learning anything at all. It's so bizarre. By the time of the recital you've paid hundreds of dollars in hopes that your child isn't the one standing there staring at everyone in the audience..

Agree totally about dance. Such a scam. 75 dollar outfit for a single 3 minute dance and then never worn again. Such a waste. Its one of those activities where the moms are into it as much as the kids.

 

[Sabertooth]

Moms are crazy about the dance. I just don't get it.

 

[shadyridr]

My son is five and hasnt done a single extra cirricular activity yet. Magical my ###! Lol actually signing him up for baseball this spring. Its gonna be a complete waste of money and kill my weekends.

 

[NutterButter]

My son is five and hasnt done a single extra cirricular activity yet. Magical my ###! Lol actually signing him up for baseball this spring. Its gonna be a complete waste of money and kill my weekends.

Just make sure you let him know that. That's the key

 

[(HULK)]

Amazing stories in this thread. The thing about practice cracks me up. See this every weekend in non-sport activities: ballet, Mandarin, Jazz Choir. They're in another room, unseen. These are NOT toddlers. You've got 60-90 minutes to chill, run errands, shop, whatever. And I'm the only parent at each class to slap it high and walk out of there, while they sit there staring at their mobile device.

My daughters both do ballet. Its behind closed doors. I don't think anyone stays, but I wouldn't know, because I send them into the room and then immediately throw ninja dust and escape into the Costco right next door.

This is something that really irritates me. My little girl is in dance as well and we aren't allowed to watch them. I get that we can be a distraction etc, but at least put a camera up or a two way mirror or something. I personally think dance is the biggest scam going. They go all year. We can't watch. Pay for all these recital costumes and the monthly lessons. We go to said recital to see if they are learning anything at all. It's so bizarre. By the time of the recital you've paid hundreds of dollars in hopes that your child isn't the one standing there staring at everyone in the audience..

Agree totally about dance. Such a scam. 75 dollar outfit for a single 3 minute dance and then never worn again. Such a waste. Its one of those activities where the moms are into it as much as the kids.

My kids use their old ones for dress up.

 

[(HULK)]

My kids dance school has a Daddy Dance during the recital. And yes, I

Was guilted into doing it. We had like 6 practices and then performed.

 

[Sabertooth]

I was leaned on to do the Daddy dance as well. I turned them down a couple times and they got the hint.

 

[NutterButter]

Amazing stories in this thread. The thing about practice cracks me up. See this every weekend in non-sport activities: ballet, Mandarin, Jazz Choir. They're in another room, unseen. These are NOT toddlers. You've got 60-90 minutes to chill, run errands, shop, whatever. And I'm the only parent at each class to slap it high and walk out of there, while they sit there staring at their mobile device.

My daughters both do ballet. Its behind closed doors. I don't think anyone stays, but I wouldn't know, because I send them into the room and then immediately throw ninja dust and escape into the Costco right next door.

This is something that really irritates me. My little girl is in dance as well and we aren't allowed to watch them. I get that we can be a distraction etc, but at least put a camera up or a two way mirror or something. I personally think dance is the biggest scam going. They go all year. We can't watch. Pay for all these recital costumes and the monthly lessons. We go to said recital to see if they are learning anything at all. It's so bizarre. By the time of the recital you've paid hundreds of dollars in hopes that your child isn't the one standing there staring at everyone in the audience..

Agree totally about dance. Such a scam. 75 dollar outfit for a single 3 minute dance and then never worn again. Such a waste. Its one of those activities where the moms are into it as much as the kids.

My kids use their old ones for dress up.

My 7 year old doesn't do dress up anymore. Luckily, I think she's done with dance.

 

[flapgreen]

Sounds like she's the one missing the point of parenting.

 

[mr roboto]

Sounds like she's the one missing the point of parenting.

That it's about the parents self esteem and reputation?

 

[flapgreen]

My son is five and hasnt done a single extra cirricular activity yet. Magical my ###! Lol actually signing him up for baseball this spring. Its gonna be a complete waste of money and kill my weekends.

Just make sure you let him know that. That's the key

lol

 

[flapgreen]

Sounds like she's the one missing the point of parenting.

That it's about the parents self esteem and reputation?

That she's allowed it to become a chore and not something she enjoys.

 

[ghostguy123]

When my daughter was between like 3-6 the xmas and birthday presents she liked the most were the ones I got her. An assortment of cardboard boxes, scissors, markert, colored pipe cleaners, and cups. Maybe some construction paper.

The Dora kitchen sets and playhouses were put aside, while she played with the #### that cost a total of about 200 bucks over the course of about 4 years for all occasions combined.

Vacations sort of the same thing. Some parents insist on taking their kids to Disney Word when they are like 3-4 years old. I mean, if you have a ton of money to the point where you can splurge a few grand and not care at all, then I guess it's ok. Otherwise, wow, what a horrid waste of money and a huge dent to your finances for really no more enjoyment than something that could cost you like a couple hundred bucks on a family getaway somewhere.

And this is just the common sense financial stuff. This doesnt even get into how dumb it is to just give your kids the world.