This post is for older Bunchers (and to give you younger ones a sense of what you have to look forward to). My boys are 3 and 4 this year. Both started Mother's Morning Out one morning a week when they were a little over a year old and segued into preschool a couple of mornings a week at age 2, adding one morning each year as they turned older. So I am no stranger to Back to School.
In the MMO program, I remember feeling a little put out because there was little to no information coming from the school. Parents were not allowed in the classroom, save for the end of the year party. There were no parent/teacher conferences, few notes from the school, and not a whole lot of information about what exactly my kid was doing on Wednesdays from 9 to noon.
In year two, the communication was a little better. We were allowed in the classroom at Christmas and at the end of the year, and would get the odd piece of feedback in the carpool line as to how our children were faring in the classroom.
Year 3 started feeling "real". Parents were allowed to attend only one or two of the several parties throughout the year (mostly due to space constraints), but they were invited to volunteer in the classroom during the week as math and reading helpers. We had parent-teacher conferences, where we got a full report on our child's progress throughout the year. There were beginning of the year and end of the year handwriting, self-portrait, and alphabet comparisons sent home, as well as a progress report on skills learned. My kid failed "cutting", so we had to spend the summer learning how to use scissors.
Year 4 is all in. Not only are we expected to work several of the parties, each parent is responsible for supplying the Play-Doh for one month out of the year. There are requests for volunteers for math and reading helpers, field trip supervisors, front office helpers, and substitute teachers. This is in addition to the Parents Club (our version of the PTA) expectations that we work the pre-school's consignment sale fundraiser as well as several other events throughout the year (family picnic, Muffins for Moms, Donuts for Dads, parent education nights, etc., etc.)
Not that I am complaining. I am a firm believer in parental involvement in schools. It's just that this year, with a 3 AND a 4 year old (plus a new baby), it's all coming at me a little fast. We're only a couple of weeks into the school year and so far it has been an endless stream of communication from the school - don't forget about meet and greet day, can we work parties, can we volunteer at the sale this week, will we attend Parent Education night, do we want to buy school pictures, please remember that all 4 year olds have to buy a school t-shirt, can we send $25 a kid for teacher gifts throughout the year, do we want to attend the coffee hosted by the room mom, will we be going on the zoo trip, don't forget that 4 year olds bring their own snack this year, please send in updated immunization forms for everyone, did you fill out the emergency contact paperwork, and on and on and on.
I'm not sure if it's the daze brought on by my lack of sleep due to the new addition or if I'm just stupid now, but I am feeling a little assaulted by school-related information. Makes me long for the good old days where I just sent my kid away for 3 hours a week and didn't have to know what they were up to. Somehow I have a feeling this is only the beginning...
Nice timing on this post. I just have my 3 & 4 yr old in preschool this year... and I got TWO packets to do school fundraising. We just had Ryan and I am very sleep deprived as well. And I am wondering to myself... how in the world am I going to hit up people for this. Ugh. You are right, it's only the tip of the iceberg.
Posted by: Michelle | Sep 18, 2008 at 05:12 PM
Oh MY! That is crazy! I wish the best with coping. I have two boys 18 months apart and my youngest is 11 months today. I just went back to work, this sounds like a good reason for me to be a SAHM again!
Posted by: Rashida Shorter | Sep 18, 2008 at 08:08 PM
I think that to get the credit loans from banks you must have a great reason. But, one time I have received a car loan, because I was willing to buy a bike.
Posted by: Cora23Walls | Oct 31, 2011 at 09:47 PM