I read an interesting article on a local news site today. It caught my attention because it is on a topic I address with couples and families on a daily basis – overscheduling. Here is a link to the article on how parents typically  overschedule the lives of their children: http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=13488424

I think this issues extends far beyond the simple issue of overscheduling. I see it as evidence of the priorities of parents and families. I believe many feel they are helping their children by giving them as many opportunities as they can to help them succeed. I worry sometimes it may be parents trying to live through their children, or parents that feel their children need to prove they are better or more accomplished than others. Maybe parents feel the children need these experiences to succeed in life. However, the perceived benefits may overshadow the damage on other aspects of family life such as: family relationships due to lack of quality time spent together, health due to stress and lack of sleep, feeling out of balance in family life due to carrying too many responsibilities, poor diet, etc.  I am yet to find a study that suggests that families that spend too much quality time together have significant problems with stress, lack of family connection, health problems, finding balance in life, etc. If we really care about ourselves, our children, and our families, it is my professional opinion that we would do well to simplify most aspects of our lives. The need for emotional connection, love, and closeness as a family is no different today than in past generations, yet we perceive todays times as different justifying the undue stress we place on our families. I believe if parents focused more time and energy on simple family time rather than enrolling our children in 12 sports, playing 4 musical instruments, student government, etc. our kids would excel in ways we don’t realize. Give it a shot. The whole family deserves it.