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: 07-18-2007
Wed, 08-29-2007 - 1:43pm

Well it was a good try.


I never used before-care so I can't speak from my own experience (which apparently doesn't stop you). My kids generally spent their before-school time at home eating breakfast,

Yeah well, that's just, ya know, like, your opinion, man-The Big Lebowski 

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-27-1998
Wed, 08-29-2007 - 1:45pm

Okay, I thought there for a second you had the insight for the connection between my income paying for activities and the consistent standard comment.


I know that

PumpkinAngel

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-15-2006
Wed, 08-29-2007 - 1:48pm

huh? consistent standards are just that - consistent,across the board standards that aren't dependant on a second income for us.

do tell me,if you were to lose your job tomorrow and found nothing else comparable to what you're making now,would you have to give up your nanny,give up the investments for your sons and college? this is very hypothetical because i doubt that would ever happen but just pretend........the only point i'm making is that everything dh and i have ever done,ever budgeted for was always his income alone. if i returned to a real job tomorrow,i wouldn't come home all googly eyed and announce that 25-30K more is enough to support more days of horseback riding,a better cushion for college. those standards are already in place and wouldn't change because i don't believe more days riding determine a better passion nor do i believe funding more for college means any better chance for success,either. my money would be just that,extra money.

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-04-1997
Wed, 08-29-2007 - 1:48pm
The church nursery I was fine with, and my older child was fine there. My younger one hated it, for still unexplained reasons, but it may have been because there were often different volunteers there and in daycare, you get the same provider every day. I don't know. The gym nursery seemed to me to be pretty chaotic, I knew nothing about the training and capabilities of the people who were working there and they had infants in the same place as toddlers and preschoolers. I only even considered it because I would never be leaving the facility.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-18-2007
Wed, 08-29-2007 - 1:55pm
Hey!

Yeah well, that's just, ya know, like, your opinion, man-The Big Lebowski 

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 08-29-2007 - 1:56pm

"do tell me,if you were to lose your job tomorrow and found nothing else comparable to what you're making now,would you have to give up your nanny,give up the investments for your sons and college?"


Give up the nanny?

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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-18-2007
Wed, 08-29-2007 - 1:57pm
It's a very small universe, you see.

Yeah well, that's just, ya know, like, your opinion, man-The Big Lebowski 

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-15-2006
Wed, 08-29-2007 - 2:02pm

but you do realize that alot of times,our reactions determine our child's reactions,right? it's like when i teach water baby swim lessons adn tell the parents to do the jack in the boxes with their kids (submerge under water). i'm amazed at the mom who told me her 6 MONTH old wouldn't like that so she wouldn't do it. she's the one uncomfortable about it,not her kid. (i didn't tell her that but) i remind parents that our babies reactions depend on our reactions and if our reaction is one of fear and fright,then our child is going to react the same way. if we go down,come up and reinforce the positive with a way to go,kuddos,then our child is less likely to fear it.

rambling but i believe the same thing applies to young kids in environemtns like nurseries,too..if mom is enthusiastic about the program,so will the child be.

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-27-1998
Wed, 08-29-2007 - 2:03pm

<>


Standards for dh and I in raising our children, really aren't connected to an income.

PumpkinAngel

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-27-1998
Wed, 08-29-2007 - 2:04pm

Ah of course, lol.


PumpkinAngel

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