This is the theme for Heart of the Matter Online’s Meme this week. I, for one, try to limit outside activities as much as possible, because I have found that with too many of them, my schedule becomes way too overwhelming. I think that outside activities can be good, but with 6 kids and the financial constraints that come with that, this has not been a doable thing for me. Just with all that I have to do at home and the errands that I have to run each week, I am overwhelmed enough already!
The only outside activities that we doing this year are going to our church’s homeschool group once or twice a month and an occasional field trip. We also have a homeschoolers park day that we go to on Mondays as well. As far as sports and music, my husband is very musically inclined and has taught one of my sons the guitar and one of my daughters how to play the conga drums. The only sports interest so far has been surfing and skateboarding (this is my 13 year old son), which doesn’t require being a part of team or scheduled practices.
I remember reading an article when I had first started homeschooling or a few years after, by Karen Andreola and the words that she said really stuck with me. She said that she missed the years when they only had one car and she had to stay home. Those were her greatest memories. She got a lot more done in those times. And the time spent with her children was priceless. I have to say that she is so right because I find that when we have had too many activities to go to, we got hardly anything done with our schoolwork, as far as the 3Rs, which to me are the most important.
So as far as this year is concerned, we will limit those outside activities. Next year, may be a different story. My son will be in 9th grade and I want to prepare him for college. So I will probably be doing the co op thing for math and science (those not being my best subjects!) But for now, I am happy to be a homebody.
