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?

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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-04-1997
Wed, 08-29-2007 - 10:40am
It is rude to assume that because someone chooses to work outside the home, she is doing so for purely materialistic reasons, for one thing.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-09-2007
Wed, 08-29-2007 - 10:42am

I'm sorry that you have a problem with the hypothetical. Dictionary.com is always helpful.

You might want to quit with the assumptions about my life. Remembering sometimes factual and sometimes not slivers of information doesn't make you look clever.

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-04-1997
Wed, 08-29-2007 - 10:44am
One of my kids nagged me for two years to put him in the afterschool program -- we live a couple of houses away from our local elementary school, and the neighborhood kids can't use the playground until after the aftercare kids are gone. He'd look out and see his friends and classmates playing soccer or baseball or whatnot and stick out his lower lip because he couldn't go play, too! A lot of kids, particularly upper elementary, like aftercare precisely because that's where a lot of their friends are.
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-05-2000
Wed, 08-29-2007 - 10:44am

Even after reading it a 2nd time, I still don't get why the time it takes to change a diaper is so important that you will do it instead of your dh. Who cares if it takes him a minute or 2 longer than you, as long as someone changes the diaper? Personally, for our family, the idea that "Daddy is for fun and Mommy means business" (to borrow a phrase from Honey, I Blew Up the Kid) wouldn't work.

Chris

The truth may be out there but lies are in your head. Terry Pratchett

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Wed, 08-29-2007 - 10:45am
OT:DH is also in satelite communications. He used to be an RF man and build earth stations too. As an intern, early in his career he built a satelite at Hughes for his now employer. Now he is in the development/implementation of new products arena.
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-12-2004
Wed, 08-29-2007 - 10:48am

She explained that she prefers that he go in earlier rather than work later.

Robin

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2000
Wed, 08-29-2007 - 10:50am

<>


Why would it matter if it took him longer to change a diaper than you?


I can do a lot of things more quickly and better than my kids (make their beds, fold their laundry and put it away, do the dishes, etc).

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-27-1998
Wed, 08-29-2007 - 10:53am

That's the way I'm taking it as well.


PumpkinAngel

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-27-1998
Wed, 08-29-2007 - 10:55am

He shifted his hours.

PumpkinAngel

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2000
Wed, 08-29-2007 - 11:04am

Interesting!

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