Extracurricular Overload
How to Demystify Your Kids’ Jampacked Schedules
some tips to stay sane in the midst of the extracurricular whirlwind.
go further than that. Those soccer practices Jacob’s going to? There are other teammates there, and those teammates have parents shuttling them around, just like you are. Set up carpools to manage scheduling conflicts between your kids and drastically reduce the time you spend as a chauffeur. Maintain balance. This might come as a surprise, but you will have to say no to your child every now and then. Sure, simultaneous baseball, football, and soccer seasons might seem healthy and fun for your kid, but you need to consider your own needs, as well. Many parents give their children free rein over what to choose, but limit activities to one or two per season. Make sure you weigh each child’s needs equally, and keep the rules the same for each of them.
Consolidate all your scheduling, jotting, and
activity-tracking strategies into one system. You can’t afford to be scrawling “Abby piano lesson rescheduled 9/21” on the first scrap of paper you come across. That doesn’t mean you have to be hyper-organized, but it does mean that you need to keep your
entire calendar in one place, whether that place is Google Calendar, a fridge whiteboard, or the old-fashioned standby: a calendar with a lighthouse on every page. Whichever system you choose, keep it updated. Its word is law. Form parent alliances. It’s vital that you and your partner coordinate availability and who’s driving whom when, but you should
As school starts up again, so do sports, and your kids’ extracurricular ambitions pile up like the falling autumn leaves. Managing their schedules can seem impossible, but don’t let yourself get burned out. Here are
ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
Meet Sara Tutherow Taekwondo is Sara Tutherow’s passion. For the past seven years, she has dedicated herself to the Korean martial art known for its fast and high kicks. She entered the sport as a white belt, the traditional starting color, and through the years, she ascended the ranks to become a black belt in 2015. It was far from an easy journey, and it only became more challenging when Sara began to experience hip pain. There were times when she thought her time with taekwondo was going to end because the pain was getting in the way. She knew she had to do something. Sara began physical therapy. Over six months, and for two separate cases, Bridget Littrell, DPT, helped Sara find relief. She could once again focus on the sport she loved. Without the therapy, her ascension through the ranks would not have happened, and she would
not have garnered the attention of the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF).
Even before Sara achieved black belt status, the ITF wanted her to compete in the ITF World Championship. It was right before Sara earned her second-degree black belt that they finally asked her to compete in the event. The ITF World Championship is held every two years, and it serves as a world-class event for the sport. The event took place in Argentina, August 9–12. Sara competed in the junior division, earning the distinction of the youngest competitor in her division from any country. She was also one of three female juniors on Team USA. Looking forward, Sara plans to try out for cheerleading. Already, she has made an impression with her ability to jump and kick.
She can launch herself seven feet into the air to kick and break a board. There is no doubt she will be able to do what she loves for years to come!
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