Mom of 6-Year-Old Looks at Weekly Schedule—Has Shocking Realization
2 hours ago
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A mother says a simple weekly planning session left her questioning how childhood became so tightly scheduled after realizing her 6-year-old’s routine rivaled that of an adult.
Reddit user degen_mom89 described a calendar packed with activities each weekday, from soccer and piano lessons to swimming and art classes, along with a string of weekend birthday parties.
“I spent more time in my minivan last week than in my own house,” she lamented, adding that by dinnertime she felt like she had been, “driving since 3 p.m.”
The realization led her to ask when expectations shifted so dramatically for young children.
“When did we all decide kids need a full resume before they can tie their shoes,” she asked fellow Redditors, adding that she felt overwhelmed trying to keep up.
Around 400 Reddit responses offered a mix of empathy and blunt advice.
“In the nicest way possible, you are the one who sets the schedule,” noted a contributor.
“I would literally burn out myself taking my kid to all of that, also because I need time to go and workout myself. Cut piano or art. Whatever one they like less.”
Another pundit urged a slower pace, writing, “Please let your child just be a kid. They deserve downtime and to just do nothing. Just like you do as a parent. They’re just children, they don’t need block schedules filled up.
“Four different things Monday through Thursday? The child has got to be exhausted.”
The post reflects a wider conversation about how structured activities have come to dominate early childhood. Some parents see extracurriculars as opportunities for development, while others worry about the toll on both children and caregivers.
‘It doesn’t have to be this way’
Writers and advocates have long raised similar concerns.
“We can let children be children,” the author wrote for The Expectations Project, adding that protecting a child’s sense of wonder remains essential. The piece also quotes artist and activist Andre Henry, who said, “it doesn’t have to be this way.”
Concerns about pressure and expectations appear in parenting discussions as well.
“Our children are not trophies and our unconditional love for our child speaks more highly of the kind of parents we are than our child’s achievements,” according to Green Child Magazine.
For the mother behind the post, the packed schedule seemed to raise a more immediate question about sustainability. Between constant driving and limited downtime, even basic routines like preparing dinner felt out of reach.
Many pundits suggested scaling back activities to create breathing room for both parent and child. Others pointed out that unstructured time can support creativity and independence in ways organized programs may not.
The discussion continues as parents weigh how much structure is helpful and when it becomes too much, especially for children still learning how to tie their shoes.
Newsweek has reached out to degen_mom89 for comment via Reddit. We could not verify the details of the case.
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