School isn't Everything and Weekend Linky

Welcome to my weekend blog hop -

Make My Saturday Sweet #87!

School Isn't Everything

My three teenagers, Jeremiah (age 17), Jessica (age 16) and Samantha (age 13) all do well at school. They are also strong readers.

We usually don't have to push the two oldest kids to focus on school, especially not Jessica. In fact, when she was in grade 6, I told her teacher that I thought she was working too hard and sometimes my husband and I were having to tell her to go to bed and leave the homework or project unfinished. I don't think the teacher was impressed with my stance. But Jessica wasn't only spending her days at school and at home doing homework. She was also spending hours of training in rhythmic gymnastics. She made it to the South African finals twice. In grade 8, she switched to contemporary dance.

Jessica 2012

Jeremiah used to do a variety of sports and school wasn't his main focus. As long as he got decent grades and lived a balanced life, we were happy. He's been having grade A shoulder pain for about a year-and-a-half now and so the sports have fallen away. He's had X-rays and an MRI, but it was advised that operating might cause more trouble. Now he puts a lot of focus on his school work and his grades have improved considerably.

Jeremiah and Amanda 2011

Samantha is smart, but school work does not drive her like it does her big sister. She loves having fun. Sometimes she needs encouragement from us to buckle down. Her form of sport has been ballet. She's been doing it on-and-off for a few years. Jessica began last year taking ballet with her sister to increase her dance skills. It's been a good bonding point for them.

Jessica - Rhythmic Gymnastics
and Samantha - Ballet 2008

Amanda has the nicest life out of all of them. She is still in Kindergarten (we're in the middle of the school year here) and so there isn't copious amounts of homework for her. She is also taking tennis and introductory gymnastics. Sometimes we organize a play date at our house with one of her friends.

Amanda - Tennis 2014

Besides school and sports, the kids need to have fun and to socialize. It's all about leading a balanced life. With school demanding so much from kids, it's sometimes hard to find that balance. Sure, there will be days when the amount of school work far outweighs any other activity, but that must not be the norm. You see, school isn't everything.

Amanda's Art - Girl Playing Golf 2014

*********************

Check out my latest book review and kid's activity

on How Andrew Got His Spots and enter to win $25!

*********************

Make My Saturday Sweet is a weekend blog hop for all family friendly blogs. You are welcome to link your favorite post from the past week(s) and to visit the last link before yours and leave a sweet comment. It's a really easy and fun way to make new friends and to catch up on old acquaintances.

Now on to my blog hop...

It's time for another Make My Saturday Sweet blog hop!

Join me (your host) for this fun and easy hop.

All family friendly blogs are welcome!

If you host your own blog hop(s), then feel free to

link them on my Blog Hops page!

I would love for you to follow me on

Google+

Pinterest 

Twitter 

Facebook 

Here are the easy rules:

• Follow Tina (your host) on one or more links listed above.
• Link up a post from your family friendly blog.
• Please try to add my hop button on your post or side-bar.
• Share about this hop on Twitter, Google+ or Facebook.
• Visit the last link before yours and leave a sweet comment.

Blog Button Code:

<center> <a href="http://abooksandmore.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Amanda’s Books and More" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWaX10yWr7xxEQ5BBMhOqdZxobJ0omJBq-v8ENFn3YNNebsnsYBHwcGyje-XzSlHSJOIlZ1rEOp89LyNI97XrPFZtdeH_AvaNV3F8hOvHfsuwe29ALNQw75ibK34buYq7nhpGGZJ8UTnoB/s150/Make+My+Saturday+Sweet.jpg"/></a></center>

This is a blog hop!