It’s three months into Flea’s secondary school journey. Is it too soon to confess that I’m exhausted?
Completely and utterly.
It’s hard to imagine before you’re here, how much life changes when a child goes into secondary school.
In some ways, it’s a good thing – at Flea’s old school, she wasn’t given much of a chance to get involved with sports and activities, and it’s one of the reasons we chose her new school.
But wow – Flea’s schedule makes my head spin.
On a Monday there’s hockey club after school. On Tuesday, Flea goes to Scouts. Then on Wednesday, it’s more hockey with a local women’s club. Thursday is STEM club (all I know about this is they’re building a robot).
Friday is cross country at lunchtime, then drama lessons. Her week finishes off with after-school hockey training with a goalkeeping coach.
The weekends are just as hectic.
On a Saturday, more often than not, there’s a hockey match.
Our Sundays currently alternate between karate club and skateboarding lessons – although after Christmas, this is going to have to give way to more hockey matches, because Flea’s been asked to play in goal for the under 13s team for the local club.
So far, Flea is loving it. Her confidence is booming, and she’s having fun. Her fitness is improving, and she’s making friends. What’s not to love?
Flea will happily spend her free lunchtimes (when she’s not doing climbing club, guitar practice or drama lessons) in the library, doing her homework, so she can relax when she does get home. And she’s beyond thrilled that for the next match at school, she’s in the starting line-up for the A-team, for the first time.
I’m delighted for her – I am. It’s everything we hoped for when she started secondary school, and more. Quite a lot more.
If I’m completely honest, I’m missing that down time we used to have when Flea finished school at 3.30 and was done for the day. When weekends might include a couple of hours of karate, while I had a swim.
Now there’s an activity after school every day of the week, and more activities on the weekends. While Flea’s busy on the pitch, I’m responsible for transport, mobile catering, laundry of kit, and sewing of scout badges.
Mums and Dads of two, three, four kids – HOW THE HELL DO YOU MANAGE THIS? I’ve got one child, and I’m basically broken before the end of term one.
I’m not sure what the solution is.
I don’t want to squash any of Flea’s enthusiasm. I love that she’s become so passionate about hockey.
All these activities are providing a great platform for her to make friends with the other girls in her year (Although I’m trying not to think too hard about the fact that her goalkeeping coach is my old form teacher from 5th year of senior school, when my attendance was sporadic*cough* and my conduct not exactly stellar).
I just need a magical way to squeeze ten days into seven OR create new energy from nowhere.
Any ideas?
I always had a vision that this would be our future. I loved the thought of so many extra curricular activities I missed out on. Then he started swimming lessons and already I am like omg can we just go home after school!
LOL, I feel your pain.
As the schoolwork gets heavier, do they start to specialize in one or two activites I wonder? Like one sport and one instrument and maybe some drama for fun (because obvioulsy sport isn’t fun)? I have no idea but I hope so for your sake.
My oldest is in P6, which I think is your year 5, so he’s not a million miles away. I have to say I am not looking forward to the transition much. He isn’t ready yet, but I am sure in 1 1/2 years I’ll be saying a different story. He does every after school activity and lunch time activity just now, I have no idea how they do it all. Flea sounds like she is taking all of this in her stride. It’s us mums they leave in a trail of dust xx
This is me too. Maddie is in three shows this term. Three! Thank god she’s not sporty, although she has signed up to the trampoline club for next term, as well as the coding club. And then weekends are ice-skating. Gang show rehearsals after Christmas will be 10am-5pm Saturday AND Sunday.
First of all, I don’t know how they stay on top of it, and I think they are amazing for having the first idea where they have to be and what they have to take every day.
Second, I feel like I have started secondary.
And third, these are girls! I have a boy heading into this in two years time and I have no idea how he will cope. Well, I do, I’m just going to have to up my game!
I feel that secondary school is often a big transition for both the child and the parents. For the child, it is a new school, new activities, new friends and bigger responsibilities. For the parents, it is much more hectic.
Having a one kid is already tough so to all the parents who have more than one, please teach us your ways of how you guys handle your kids!!
Have you thought of taking yoga classes? When Flea’s in school, maybe just take an hour off your work and do a little bit of yoga. It really does let your mind “breathe” and cools you down. Worked for me anyway.