“Can I take gymnastics? I want to try horse back riding. My friends are all in Brownies …” Many parents out there are probably familiar with these types of questions posed to the powers-that-be – mom and dad – by our lovely children. We, as a modern family, seem to be in a constant time struggle to “fit it all in”.

Our kids seem to feel almost entitled to join whatever activity seems to meet their fancy, regardless of cost and how it fits into the family schedule. Our two daughters take dance two days a week at an academy that runs from September until June. They are also in swimming lessons in the Spring and soccer in the Summer. Figure skating lessons loom over our heads as a possiblity in the winter except for the incredibly convenient ice times of 3:30 in the afternoon! Now, as a full-time working mother, there’s nothing I enjoy more than racing to my car and leaving work early (skipping lunch, of course) and driving like a mad woman to pick up her kids from the babysitter, racing over to the rink (while your daughter is reminding you from the back seat that you’re late) and then slapping skates on while 85 other parents are frantically trying to do the same thing. I used to coach figure skating so in the end, I figured we’d hit the ponds, have some fun and spend the $400 on something else for our family to enjoy.

Many parents have probably felt that impending “keeping up with the Jones’” guilty feeling. If our kids aren’t exposed to enough variety in their young lives and enrolled in a wide range of activities seven nights a week, that they will some how turn out to be unfullfilled adults and not live up to their potential. Throw homework and life into the equation and it makes for a hectic week. I feel quite strongly that kids need time to just play and have some unscheduled family time. When asked by my daughter in the summer if she could go to a couple of summer camps, I responded with “We have some beautiful grass and ocean out at our cottage — lets just run and swim and enjoy the outside. Welcome to Summer Camp!” (And it didn’t cost us $300!) We just want our kids to be healthy and active, but not always in a scheduled way.

Now, don’t get me wrong … I had a very full, athletic life growing up and I don’t regret any of it. It was just … well … busy. A lot of nights my brothers and I were running from one event to another — I still don’t know how my parents did it. But they loved us and supported us in our interests and we all turned out pretty well.

I guess the bottom line is balance… and for each family the scale is always a little different.

After earning her Applied Arts Diploma from the Illustration program at Sheridan College in Toronto, Jodie plied her trade at a number of different design studios and agencies in Toronto. Another one who saw the light and moved to Nova Scotia, she happily settled in Halifax for it’s small-town feel. Equally adept with pen and ink or point and click, her talent is evident in all facets of her work. Some of Jodie’s clients have included Eastlink, Saint Mary’s University and Pierceys. She’s recently started working one-on-one with some of her clients, giving her the opportunity to relate directly to their needs. In her spare time — though she’s not sure any of her time could be considered spare — Jodie is kept busy with her two young daughters and husband. Except when she plays in her dart league once a week — that’s mommy’s night out.