Parents and school involvement

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-17-2003
Parents and school involvement
2586
Thu, 08-23-2007 - 8:49am

My question stems from a personal experience. My middle child is starting kindergarten next week. I've become fairly close with one of my dd's friend's moms- this is her first child entering the school system. She WOH, I do not, plus I have experience with the school, so she's been calling me with questions and comments.

It started to go bad when she called to complain that the kindy orientation is during the day- when she is working. Then it led to complaints about the parents' read aloud program (when the kids are in library) and other opportunities for volunteerism in the school. I get that these things aren't convenient for her, but I'm getting annoyed with the complaining. How can the kids have an orientation at night when they go to school during the day? None of these events are mandatory for parents or kids. And plenty of activities are scheduled for evenings: Back to school night, the PTA picnic, etc.

She thinks because she can't participate, no one should be able to, apparently. Plenty of WOHP do show up for these things. I think she's being unrealistic if she thought she could put a couple of kids through school without ever taking a vacation day. Am I wrong? Am I missing something here?

Pages

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-18-2007
Wed, 08-29-2007 - 9:07am
No. You have certainly NOT been nasty. You have been stating a very valid opinion - a SAHP is better for children.

About the info others neglect to mention, it just amazes me what some posters intentionally omit from their posts to you. When a WOHP claims that SAH would make no difference whatsoever to her school-aged children, she conveniently forgets to mention that her children have to spend several hours every week in after-school care to accomodate their parents' work schedules. That's a huge omission. I see no reason that hours every week in after-school care is better for any child than spending those same hours at home, among their own things, toys, homework desk, neighborhood friends, etc. None.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-08-2001
Wed, 08-29-2007 - 9:10am
Certainly! Glad to satisfy your curiosity. IME, a salaried position is a step up from an hourly position (when both types are represented within a company of course). And when one is promoted to a salaried position, they are expected to "step up" to their new responsibilities. If that means working longer hours, that shouldn't come as a surprise.

Mary



Mom to Kevin 11/4/03



Everyone should have kids. They are the greatest joy in the world. But they are also terrorists. You'll realize this as soon as they are born, and they start using sleep deprivation to break you.



Ray Romano, actor/comedian

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-08-2001
Wed, 08-29-2007 - 9:10am
That too!

Mary



Mom to Kevin 11/4/03



Everyone should have kids. They are the greatest joy in the world. But they are also terrorists. You'll realize this as soon as they are born, and they start using sleep deprivation to break you.



Ray Romano, actor/comedian

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-18-2007
Wed, 08-29-2007 - 9:13am

<> LOL!

I don't understand how one's spouse gets to dictate how those 8 hours/day is divvied up. If he's hoping to become VP, shouldn't he decide he needs to be there when the employees he is in charge of are working? Could it hurt to make sure those 8 hours/day are when the owner and/or his son are there?

I just don't see the spouse being able to decide the exact work schedule.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 08-29-2007 - 9:15am

But shari and PKA are in totally different situations.

<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> 

Avatar for mkatherine
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Wed, 08-29-2007 - 9:15am
Liza will be downstairs in the playroom by herself if I'm upstairs but I can't go "all the way upstairs' to the 2nd floor... she does NOT like me to be downstairs while she's showering -- she's so funny. if she has to run upstairs sometimes to get something from her room she says "momma time me!" so I count to ten to see how fast she can get up there and back.... I actually don't think this is all THAT unusual, my brothers 3 boys all went through the same thing....

 

Yes. We. Did.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 08-29-2007 - 9:17am

Thanks for that, but just so you know, SAH still sounds like the right decision for your family at this time.


<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> 

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-08-2001
Wed, 08-29-2007 - 9:17am

<>


She can have the opinion that it's better for HER children, and more power to her. I don't see how she could have an opinion of children she's never met.

<>


Wow, how do you know what posters "intentionally" omit?

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-18-2007
Wed, 08-29-2007 - 9:21am

What a shame. I agree of course parents should not be able to phone the teacher during the day. What a nightmare that could become.

But certainly anyone working within the school building should be able to dial directly into any classroom for safety reasons. And not just from the main office.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-04-2003
Wed, 08-29-2007 - 9:24am

Right now he is head of engineering who's hours are 7-3.

 

Shari mother to

Pages