A family I know adopted two children from China, their only children. Ever since, they find all sorts of creative ways to NOT be with their kids. This summer, those two kids were in every kind of camp imaginable, right up to the day they started school, last week, I believe.
Sometimes I wonder, why did you go through all the trouble to adopt them, and from CHINA no less, and then spend as little time with them as possible?
The couple you refereed to probably feel very SELF RIGHTEOUS. They “saved” these two children from a terrible fate. Why they made SURE there is NO LOVE in their lives. They made SURE that MATERIALISM and NEGLECT is a permanent part of their lives. Trust me, they are smug about the adoptions.
We know a family that raises their two kids much the same way - it is constant activities. In the spring, they had their daughter (who is 10) in traveling basketball (5-6 nights a week), archery (2 mornings a week), piano lessons (1 day a week), and volleyball, with a few basketball camps thrown in. Their son (age 13) was in track (5 days a week), wrestling, and some other activity. Now, at least one of the parents is always there to observe and cheer the son or daughter on, but it is just TOO much.
Their son is ADHD and their daughter is pretty rambunctious, too, and I’m sure that’s a big part of why they are kept so busy - one, to wear them out, and two, to keep them occupied so Mom (who is a SAHM) doesn’t have to deal. I wonder if it ever occurred to them that maybe some more one on one time might benefit their entire family???
We have a ONE activity at a time rule in our house. No exceptions and no arguments.