[QUOTE=rach3975;1164995]Even with a reasonable homework load, I don't know how families are supposed to fit in sports, too. It's not the school/homework part of it that we've had a problem with, it's the time commitment that the teams expect on week nights.
It's definitely a commitment and everyone is different
We've always been a very athletic family and for us there was never any question when it all started 20 years ago with Christopher. He was super athletic and loved football, hockey, and baseball. He played from K up through high school.
Cheyanne has been the same way. She started dance at age 3 and then switched to gymnastics at age 5. Then when she started school she discovered sports and was in her milieu. I honestly don't think she would function without sports
She plays soccer, basketball and softball and plays on 2 teams for each sport. She THRIVES on it. Soccer is almost over and in fact she has her 1st basketball clinic tonight from 5 to 8.
Now that she's older (8th grade) it is easier because I can drop her off and go home (been doing that since about 5th grade). School teams have practice right after school so she's home by 5 on practice nights and game nights she's home by 6 or 7 (depending on if it's home game or away game). During basketball season she'll have practice for her travel team 2 nights a week until 8:30 and games on the weekends. It's a crazy season but we both love it - it's a close knit group of parents and kids that have been doing this travel league since the kids were in 3rd grade and we travel together and stay at the same hotels, eat out, etc. It's actually quite enjoyable.
Cheyanne learned at an early age that if she wanted to play she had to manage her homework and she has done well - she knows each day exactly when and where she can study and has always been an honor student even with the heavy sports load - like I said, she thrives on it - LOL