The nursery school told us that from the beginning, but I’m only just starting to understand what they meant.
They meant that they really want to involve parents and I think that’s great. Really, I do. But in addition to the initial info session, A and I have missed work for a play group in the spring and there are three more coming up, to which we’ll have to send Gatito with Tata. Then there’s a parent info session on the first day of school (mine) and another one a month in (A’s). Then there are the monthly parent association meetings (which we will be forced to give a miss). Lest you worry about parents with younger children, they offer babysitting during these times.
I’m glad they’re doing these things and there’s nothing I want more than to participate in every last one of them. But I can’t. Part of me wonders why they told me they have lots of working moms and assured me that Gatito would not be the only one dropped off and picked up by a nanny when what they really want is actively involved parents, but I get the idea this is just kind of what it’s like to have a kid in school- maybe any school, at any age.
I am beginning to see that it is the earlier years that are, in some ways, the easiest for working parents. You just set up the nanny or daycare and get on with it. (Assuming you have child care with which you are happy, as we have had for the last year and a half.) The school years are going to present a different kind of challenge.
We’re about to make the leap into real school. I’ll let you know how it goes. But I can already tell you that the Kindergarten orientation was held on a Wednesday at 1000. The PTA meetings are Tuesdays at 1000. Kindergarten at DD’s school is only a half day…..and don’t get me started on the fact that EVERY elementary school in this county is closed EVERY Monday afternoon.
eeep.
thinking about this stuff makes my head hurt.
Kindergarten was *very* demanding. I have a very flexible job, but, at the end, it was crazy and I had to take a lot of time off from work… Granted I could have missed things, but I didn’t want to do that to N (#1).
It is true that kids take a lot of time the whole way through. I don’t think schools (maybe private ones are okay) but public ones aren’t good enough to be trusted to educate your children well. It’s so important to be very involved.
I’ll bet you’ll be glad you’re involved. If it’s like Mimi’s school (she’s transitioning from the daycare to the preschool starting week after next), you will totally benefit from the teachers knowing you and talking to you because of the information they impart to you about Gatito.
It sucks and it’s hard, but I’m sure they don’t expect everyone to do everything all the time. We have a minimum of 32 hours/year we have to volunteer and they offer plenty of options.
But I agree – we will always have the parent-teacher conferences, the ballgames, etc. This is the beginning.
My personal theory is that each phase just kind of prepares us for how hard the next phase of parenting is.
Are there other nannies dropping off/picking up? Have you seen any?
I am dreading telling the atty I’m working for that I need to take 2 days off in the next 2 weeks to make smoothies for a fundraiser so that the school can buy a puppet theater. She just won’t get it. I’m grateful for the flexibility.
How is the “new” job, anyway?
Can you believe it? Preschool! It’s really here.
Seems like yesterday we were pregnant and discussing how to empty our bladders successfully. It just flew by.