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: 01-15-2006
Thu, 08-30-2007 - 11:35am
you tell me....my kids can come home right after school. they don't need to catch breakfast there,either.

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Thu, 08-30-2007 - 11:39am
O.k., the "catch breakfast" line got me laughing.... I'm picturing my DSs' school and all those darned squirrels running around. I guess that's how they control the squirrel population -- the kids of WOHPs are catching them for breakfast.
Avatar for mkatherine
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Thu, 08-30-2007 - 11:43am

neither does my kid but in he inner city where I live where there are many many refugee and immigrant families living on next to nothing, not to mention the workign poor who have lived here for generations, the breakfast program is a godsend...as is the kids cafe run by the salvation army... as are the aftercare programs at the schools and the y that offer free or reduced fees to struggling families. That those kids have a clean safe happy place to be and that they can be fed i the process takes a huge weight off the minds of their parents.

I personall love the afterschool program b/c Liza doesnt' have to transition anywhere else, she can stay right at school with her buddies and her favorite teachers and be happy and busy until I get out of work. it's a lifesaver.

 

Yes. We. Did.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-27-2005
Thu, 08-30-2007 - 11:49am
?? Anyone in my dd's school can "catch" breakfast. The ones who normally do, according to my dd are the ones who have sahm's. My dd rarely (maybe once or twice a year) gets breakfast at school. She eats at home before the bus AND I am a wohm.
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-27-1998
Thu, 08-30-2007 - 12:04pm

Me, tell you?

PumpkinAngel

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-14-2007
Thu, 08-30-2007 - 12:06pm

My kid is at before care for about 30-45 minutes. He's at after care for about an hour. That time is spent mostly playing on the slide/playground. With very little, if any, adult interactioin.

He might eat their breakfast occasionally, but only after he's had a breakfast at home with dd, dh and I. (the kid eats a lot, what can I tell ya)

I hardly think that the above implies that b/a care is helping to raise him.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 08-30-2007 - 12:34pm
And if they enjoy coming home right after school, that is lovely for them I am sure. I am just puzzled as to what it has to do with the subject at hand.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 08-30-2007 - 12:51pm

I tend to see it the same way. I have always been so grateful for the experiences and insights dd got from others, often experiences or insights that I either would not have thought to give her or would have been unable to give her.

At the same time, I can also see, especially now that she is older, that I really am the bottom line for her in so many ways and in the end, I am responsible for her. If she starts running around without pants like Britney Spears, people will blame me, not her preschool teacher. I think that is what most people mean when they say that they are raising their kids. The final responsibility is theirs.

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-04-1997
Thu, 08-30-2007 - 12:55pm
Oh, are you talking about boarding school now? One of my kids is toying around with the idea of applying to one when he gets to be high school age. I am not sure we'll allow it, but boarding schools have been around for centuries and most kids seem to survive the experience quite nicely.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-04-1997
Thu, 08-30-2007 - 12:56pm
Well, you know we do have an opening for a little girl at the moment.

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