Finding family balance

To the Editor:

The cover story of the Jan. 23 edition of West Newsmagazine about parents overly busy with children’s activities was a reminder of what we went through 15 to 20 years ago.

We had children in early grades with after-school soccer or T-ball practice and then early Saturday morning games, sometimes stretching into the afternoons. With more than one child, the games were often at different facilities, and the family then had to travel in separate vehicles. Sometimes this went on Saturday and Sunday.

Where was the down time to relax after a week on the job for Mom and Dad?

Where was the individual family time without all of the other families around?

Where was the time for just husband and wife? It is no wonder why so many young parents have marital problems because they don’t have any time together.

We eventually canceled the Saturday extra sporting activities until the children were a little older and they really wanted to play the sport.

Even though we dropped out of T-ball and mob-ball (soccer), it did not have any devastating effect. All of our children graduated from college, and we are happily married for 32 years now.

Yes, it is a busy world that our children will live in, but young families do not need to put that time pressure unnecessarily on themselves.

Noel LaVanchy

Wildwood