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 - 4:23pm
I take off about a month in the summer entirely and I work about twenty hours a week the rest of the summer.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-14-2007
Wed, 08-29-2007 - 4:25pm

<>

I hardly consider a bedroom, a safe car, and similar as "things" in the same vein that an expensive wardrobe or designer purses are things. Yes they are things, but they're hardly "materialistic".

<>

I want it to be an every day thing. And, btw, I do a lot of volunteer work.

<>

Did I say anything about being away from the kids? Nothing in my #3 had ANYTHINg to do with being away from the kids. Which, btw, I would be anyway, as they are in school most of the day.

<>

Ok, except that I specified that *I* feel a need to financially contribute.

<>

Great. SAH is obviously the best choice for your family. As WOH is for mine.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-14-2007
Wed, 08-29-2007 - 4:26pm

<>

Unless you've met and observed "most" children, you really don't have any logical or supportable basis for that feeling.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-04-2003
Wed, 08-29-2007 - 4:39pm

Did I ever say I thought your reasons were wrong?

 

Shari mother to

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-08-2006
Wed, 08-29-2007 - 5:48pm

<< didn't assume that I was told that the reason someone here WOH was to not have to be with the kids all day.>>

so, basically you took ONE person's response and extrapolated that out to ALL wohms? Do you REALLY think that the majority of moms woh IN ORDER to NOT be with their children all day?

<>

actually, I don't believe that you ORIGINALLY said helping to raise them. I'm fairly sure that you made it clear that you thought dc was raising children in their care. Sure, they're helping raise the kids, BUT they are nowhere near the most major influence -- that STILL falls on MOM and DAD.

Carole

Avatar for mkatherine
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Wed, 08-29-2007 - 7:27pm

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."

I KISS the ground of Liza's afterschool program for this one reason: from 2nd grade on homework must be finished in afterschool before the gameboys can come out, the basketballs cam come out, etc... Liza comes home every day with homework DONE... I love that. I check it, we talk about it, we correct as needed which isn't often adn she's good to go.

 

Yes. We. Did.

Avatar for mkatherine
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Wed, 08-29-2007 - 7:28pm
DOH! PS -- that was supposed to go to sehorse--- sorry!

 

Yes. We. Did.

Avatar for mkatherine
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Wed, 08-29-2007 - 7:42pm

<>

I'm not PKA but I'll answer with a resounding "HELL YEAH!"

 

Yes. We. Did.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-03-2006
Wed, 08-29-2007 - 8:47pm

Face time is important. While we can indeed usually get our jobs done in 8 hours, where I work, the employee who is willing to burn the midnight oil is more valuable than the one who is not. Sometimes, it's just necessary.

I don't question why my company pays the employees in my department more who do nor will I moan if one of them is kept and me laid off in the next downsizing. I know the score. I understand why they are more valued than me and it's fine. I made my choice.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 08-29-2007 - 10:29pm
Dont feel bad.
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