If I were her I would keep my mouth shut because she isn't paying child support. and she shouldn't stir the pot. LOL

I would just go with what your family can handle. Sometimes we have 2 sports going with my son and sometimes we only have 1. I work so I can't get him to too many things. Sometimes his dad can help, and sometimes he can't. Just do what you can do and don't listen to her.

I'd have had to hold my tongue from saying "Well, you're his mother, why don't you pay for it?"

But, that's the reaction she probably hoped for. I don't think you have to justify or explain a thing to her. You could have said, "you can talk to DH when he gets home. Have a nice day/evening."

Since we have five kids we try to keep it manageable otherwise its impossible to get to every practice/game/event/etc..

I hear ya ima...the best part was later that evening she decided to play the 'blow up the phone' act again..called every minute till DH took it off the hook. The did it to his cell phone till he turned that off.

I swear sometimes BM just has a bad day and looks for a target to take it out on...which is usually us.

I think that you put the kids in plenty of activities! My kids have been in activities some years and none other years (due to finances). I have to say there were pros and cons each year. While the kids loved their activities they also enjoyed times with no activities so they could play freely with friends. For us, we decided that one activity at a time is enough. We want them to still have time for homework and unstructured fun.

As for bm, next time she complains about her child not being in an activity my response would be "if you want him in it then feel free to pay for it". That should end her complaint real quick!!

My DD9 is allowed two activities. She does baton and one other activity. Although this year she wanted to do parades, so even though it's still baton, that's her additional activity.

My DD4 does one activity...swimming. She loves it. She's already starting to learn the front crawl. I see swim team in her future.

My SD9 does 4-H with her mother, and right now she's taking some vocal lessons when she's with us. She wants to be a future American Idol. She was also in her school's drama club this year, and she was really great at that!!

Often times I feel like a taxi service, but I think it's important that each of the children have their own thing they're good at...something different from the other children so there's no competition over it. I want each one to feel they excell at something without having the others trying to be "better" at it. At times we put the older girls in activities together, like cheer camp, and at one time they all three were taking swimming lessons, but I've found that each one is so different and that they all have a different niche.

I've also noticed that sometimes you have to try a few different things before you find your passion. My DD9 did ballet, tap, jazz, and tumbling before she saw the twirlers, and she said, "Mom, I want to do THAT!!" It's been a passion of hers ever since. DD4 tried gymnastics and ballet, and I put her in swimming just because I'd like her to learn those skills and learn water safety, but she took to water like a fish...her passion found. Who would have thunk it when DD9 wouldn't even put her face in the water until she was 7 years old?

I do take the summer off though. The parades this year will last until early July though. I think they also need time to just be kids without having a "schedule", and right now summer is perfect for that. Also, gives me time to refresh before I become the taxi service again!!

i am against too many activities. DD sang in a small folk band for a short time, then did dancing for not too long, then she rode horses for years until she stopped winning awards in her senior year, then she got bored and quit. She still rides when opportunity arises, but not regularly. in any case she never did more than one activity at one time. and then she did not like organized sports.