Patch
Puritan Board Freshman
Greetings all! New guy here. Actually, I’ve been a member since February, but haven’t posted anything, just read posts from time to time. But, I’m struggling with something currently, that I wanted to offer up for discussion, and see how others have handled it.
My wife wants my unconverted, 14 year old, home schooled daughter, to join a year round swim team. (She’s been taking swim lessons since she was 5, so she’s getting quite good, and enjoys it.). My wife is looking at this as a means of giving our daughter something to occupy her free time, to further develop an area she enjoys, and provide another social outlet (she's extremely social). I understand her intent, and see the value in it. Being on the team would involve training every week (any 3 days, M-F), and periodic swim competitions.
My concern is that this will interfere with parental ministry to her and will begin the crazy cycle, where we become slaves to kids activities. I’m still considering the ultimate decision, and on paper it looks like it can be worked around and won’t interfere with family worship or church attendance, at this time. (Though I also know that we are just looking at paper schedules, which are an estimate of time, and actual life has a tendency to take longer that we plan.)
My wife understands and agrees that family worship and church attendance are show stoppers, and if an activity is going to interfere, then we will not do it. However, we have two more kids coming behind her, and if I let her do this, how can I limit the other kids?
Maybe I'm over thinking this part, or maybe I'm just being resistant to change, but I also fear that due to the swim team's rather aggressive schedule, and it’s going to limit my exposure to my daughter, and disrupt the family unity (she will eat dinner by herself earlier or later than the rest of the family on swim nights). During the week, my time is limited. After work, dinner, and family worship, I have about 1 ½ hours of time to deal with everything else.
So, how have others handled the balance between family life, ministry and worship, and kid’s activities?
My wife wants my unconverted, 14 year old, home schooled daughter, to join a year round swim team. (She’s been taking swim lessons since she was 5, so she’s getting quite good, and enjoys it.). My wife is looking at this as a means of giving our daughter something to occupy her free time, to further develop an area she enjoys, and provide another social outlet (she's extremely social). I understand her intent, and see the value in it. Being on the team would involve training every week (any 3 days, M-F), and periodic swim competitions.
My concern is that this will interfere with parental ministry to her and will begin the crazy cycle, where we become slaves to kids activities. I’m still considering the ultimate decision, and on paper it looks like it can be worked around and won’t interfere with family worship or church attendance, at this time. (Though I also know that we are just looking at paper schedules, which are an estimate of time, and actual life has a tendency to take longer that we plan.)
My wife understands and agrees that family worship and church attendance are show stoppers, and if an activity is going to interfere, then we will not do it. However, we have two more kids coming behind her, and if I let her do this, how can I limit the other kids?
Maybe I'm over thinking this part, or maybe I'm just being resistant to change, but I also fear that due to the swim team's rather aggressive schedule, and it’s going to limit my exposure to my daughter, and disrupt the family unity (she will eat dinner by herself earlier or later than the rest of the family on swim nights). During the week, my time is limited. After work, dinner, and family worship, I have about 1 ½ hours of time to deal with everything else.
So, how have others handled the balance between family life, ministry and worship, and kid’s activities?