In the Telegraph, on October 2nd, there was an article which caught my attention, ‘Why kids crave more time with parents.’ Multiple after-school activities have left kids craving more free time with their parents to enjoy spontaneous pleasures. In a direct quote, “Ikea’s Time to Live research discovered nearly half of kids aged six to 16 are busy with three or more after-school activities and two-thirds pine for more free family time. In the past month, 43 percent of teens and parents did not manage any spontaneous time, despite 66 percent of teens and 73 percent of parents believing the most enjoyable times have been unplanned.” Life gets crazy, particularly at this time of year when activities and commitments ramp up. However, is there something amiss with palpable relief that the classes stop during the festive season? The game was cancelled due to inclement weather? We can now play board games at home? Doing things we love sustains us, and in fact, we feel liberated as a result. Over-commitment kills spontaneity and that’s sad. My daughter and I need that as much as we relish the assurance of structure. Getting the balance right is the key and takes some doing! What are your guides for activities? Do you have rest days in between?