I’m Not The Room Parent!

It’s Working Mommy Wednesday.  The school year is in full swing.  And I can barely keep up.  Parent homework.  Forms. Packing lunches. Juggling schedules. School fundraisers. Snack duty. More forms. 

Not to mention my kids’ multiple after-school activities.  It’s simply exhausting.

Remember when we were kids – and we actually did our own homework?  Today, it’s impossible for parents to keep up. 

I know, I know.  It’s good for parents to be involved.  But let’s think about life when we were kids.

• My parents never had to check my homework every night or sign a “homework log.”  I had to do it myself. 
• My parents never got involved in school fundraisers.  I went door to door and sold candy bars (ok, maybe they bought a few bars from me). 
• My parents didn’t drop me off in front of the school or walk me to my classroom.  I took the bus.  
• My parents never volunteered in my classroom.  (No, my mom wasn’t the room mother.)

And I wasn’t neglected a bit.  I had more love at home than I could have asked for.  But school was school.  And home was home.

What happened to those lines?

Parents, are you a bit overwhelmed by the demands of school?  Do you think our kids would be more independent if we were less involved?  Or am I just over-reacting a bit?

School’s Out For The Summer!

Thank God school is out for the summer!  My kids were more than ready.  And me?  I was ready too.  I never seem to get my act together and be the perfect “School Mom.”

Homework.  Schedules.  Playdates.  Permission slips.  Emails.  More homework.  Teacher appreciation day.  Volunteer commitments.  Overdue library books.  Book sales.  Bake sales.  Lunches.  Lunch money.  Carpool.

It’s completely exhausting.  And I already wear too many hats.  But every once in awhile, the kids beg me to volunteer and I decide to actually show up.

A couple of weeks ago, I volunteered to be a “mystery reader” in Nick’s third grade class.  But when I got to his classroom, his class was empty – the kids were at Art.   Through no fault of Nick’s teacher, the daily schedule had changed.  She apologized profusely and said, “Is there any way you can come back in two hours?”

Actually, there wasn’t.  I had meetings booked solid the rest of the day.  And I wasn’t going to be able to come back and volunteer any time soon.  So I tracked down Nick during Art class.  He was surprised to see me.

“What are you doing here?”

“I came to be a mystery reader, but the schedule changed.  Do you want me to pick up McDonald’s for lunch?”

“Nah, I’d rather have a grilled cheese.  But maybe you can come back and read to the class later.”

So much for being Supermom.  I couldn’t even bribe him with McDonald’s.  Later than evening, I explained to Nick that I wouldn’t be able to volunteer at school until next year.  Nick understood, but he was still bummed.

“Mom, did you ever notice that whenever you try to do anything at my school, it always backfires?  But thanks for trying.”

As Nick knows, I’m probably never going to be the room parent.  Maybe next year I’ll get in his classroom more often.  For now, I’m just glad school’s out for the summer.  Sometimes, moms need a break!