I hope I’m using the right terminology here!

Soccer Mom- A middle class suburban mother who spends a great deal of time taking her children to play soccer or engage in other activities. 

All right now seasoned moms… I need your help!

I’m stressing out over here and need some guidance on finding the right balance between school and extracurricular activities.

I’m all about having the children play in different sports, and I’ve allowed them to venture out and try any activity they like from ballet to soccer, tennis, gymnastics and golf for my daughter and every game the rec center offered for my son. Finally, after 2 or 3 years of trying different sports, they decided they wanted to stick with lacrosse (Isabella) and baseball (Lorenzo). He is also playing soccer and loves it.  For the most part up until now, we have been able to cope with drop off and pick up to practices and games. Bini helps when he can, but it mostly falls on me to ensure the kids get there on time and have everything they need.

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A couple of days ago, Bella tried out for a travel team and got invited to play with them. While I was super excited for her, the minute, I saw the practice and game schedule I started to contemplate not having her join the team. With a full-time job, Novena (our baby) at home, studying for my health and wellness certification and the blog, making another commitment for three hours twice a week and driving to games hours away from home has me worried. Lorenzo will also be playing little league baseball this fall, then there are piano lessons  and to top it all off Bini will be traveling and away from home for over a month in October. All that aside though… Am I even being a good mother by putting all this pressure on them?

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Twice a week, both the kids will have practice in different parts of the county and within 30 minutes of each other. Once a week on different days they have piano lessons so our weekly schedule is pretty much booked everyday. We will have to rush home to do homework, shower and have dinner before bedtime.  I want them to be active and be a part of a team because it teaches them discipline, how to control their emotions, and helps them set and achieve goals among so many other things. However, I do worry this may be a lot of pressure on the kids, am I doing too much? I look at other moms that have 4 or 5 children in my kids’ teams and at their school, and it seems like they are juggling life just perfectly, but looks can be so deceiving. 

So my question to you all is HOW DO YOU DO IT? Especially those mothers that have two or more children in sports! I have an entirely new level of respect for you all!!

Signed an overstressed soccer mom!