You’ve seen them: families with their minivans decked out in team stickers. Every weekend—often during the week, too—there’s a game or a meet. They might travel for hours just to watch their kids play. There are entry fees, concession stand duties, and fundraising efforts like selling donuts or cookie dough. Then, during the week, there are practices. Almost every night, between the demands of school and homework, their children are pushed to meet the expectations of a coach who may lack formal qualifications. If it’s not every night, it’s several times a week, leaving families scrambling for dinner amid the chaos of practices. No one shares a meal together on practice nights.
I refuse to live that way.
When I observe these families, I realize that’s not the lifestyle I want. Let’s be honest: my children are unlikely to be future Olympians. They are not destined to be the next Michael Phelps or Serena Williams. Therefore, sacrificing our family time for the sake of an athletic pastime simply isn’t worth it. That’s why my children, now and forever, will not be allowed to engage in organized sports.
Above all, I value the freedom of our evenings and weekends. There’s a Tall Ships event happening this weekend, and we can spontaneously decide to go without waiting for the conclusion of a soccer match or baseball practice. We can sleep in if we choose, and we never have to fret about sports clashing with church or brunch—our cherished weekly gatherings with friends who feel like family.
When my spouse returns home, there’s no mad dash from the practice field to a fast-food restaurant. Instead, we can unwind together, eat at our leisure, and even enjoy a toad hunt by the river as dusk falls. My other children aren’t tied down by a sibling’s sports commitments; our quality time isn’t spent on the sidelines.
I understand there are merits to organized sports. Children can learn valuable lessons about teamwork, resilience, and how to cope with disappointment. It’s not that my kids are couch potatoes; far from it. They love hiking—just last month, they climbed a mountain, even the 3-year-old, all on their own. We explore the woods near our creek, keeping an eye out for alligators and laughing at downed sticks we call “logagators.”
They also kayak like champs. My 5-year-old has his own boat and can maneuver it around a serene lake, while my 7-year-old dreams of tackling Class II rapids. The 3-year-old rides on my lap. We often venture out with friends, fostering social interaction amidst our adventures.
Additionally, they take sports lessons—yes, figure skating, with a former Olympian, no less. He has left rinks where parents became overly competitive, and there’s no pressure for my kids to compete. Right now, they’re in the early stages of learning how to glide gracefully across the ice. They do this for an hour each week, and they adore it. There are no costly trips to competitions or fancy costumes, and no tearful children upset over failed jumps. I join them on the ice, and it’s a blast for all of us.
All the sports we do, we do together. We engage in these activities not in spite of each other but because we genuinely enjoy one another’s company. That’s our priority: being together as a family. Call us clingy or homebodies, but in the limited time we have, we want to be close. This means making sacrifices, and the significant one for us is organized sports.
Do I feel a twinge of regret that my kids won’t experience the joy of T-ball, or that I won’t have the chance to capture adorable photos of them styled like real baseball cards? Sure, I do. I see those charming Facebook posts of toddlers all chasing a single soccer ball, and it tugs at my heartstrings.
But we’ve made our decision, and we’re committed to it.
In summary, while organized sports offer some benefits, they can disrupt family life and shared experiences. Instead, we focus on activities that foster togetherness, ensuring that our family bonds remain strong. If you’re looking for more information on home insemination, check out this excellent resource on in vitro fertilisation.
Keyphrase: Organized sports and family life
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