Comments about ‘Balancing act: Don't forget to work on in-house balance, too’

It's so sad that today's modern family revolves so heavily around children and their overscheduled lives. When parents can't even spend time talking to one another in a day, the children have taken over. My adolescent step-children (and all their friends) are so busy being shuttled from activity to activity that they have zero time for imaginative playing (even 12-year-olds still need this), especially outside. And I don't believe they are happier than those of us who grew up in the 70s and 80s hearing the all-too-common motherly refrain of "Go play outside!" I remember having piano lessons once a week during the school year and oodles of free time during the summer, which I used to play with friends, read or do chores around the house (not by choice). Too many activities for children creates more stress throughout the whole family unit. When your marriage becomes a business partnership centered on the children's daily activities, something is wrong.

great advice!