How involved are you in your child's school?

it stinks being a FTWM because I wish I could be more involved with DD's school. All the PTA meetings are during the week in the morning so I can't attend. They are having a Multicultural Day at school next week and were looking for volunteers to help out and I signed up but I have to take a day off..which stinks. How about you? How are you involved? TIA

Re: How involved are you in your child's school?

Same amount as you. I take off for parent teacher (we only had one) & they did international day on a weekend.

Re: How involved are you in your child's school?

I know you feel badly about it but my mom and dad weren't at ALL involved in my elementary school life - they both worked two jobs. If I ever was upset about it - A) I don't remember, and B) I'm sure if I came to them, they didn't coddle me and probably just said "this is our life sweetie".

Please don't feel badly about it. You love your daughter and that's most important!

Re: How involved are you in your child's school?

I'm not involved in the school directly very much, but heavily involved in extra-curricular activities. Cub Scouts, soccer, etc. I attend as many activities as is reasonable, but I can't take off from work, or work from home for every book sale, activity, etc, that DC have at school.

Re: How involved are you in your child's school?

Posted by Jenn627

I know you feel badly about it but my mom and dad weren't at ALL involved in my elementary school life - they both worked two jobs. If I ever was upset about it - A) I don't remember, and B) I'm sure if I came to them, they didn't coddle me and probably just said "this is our life sweetie".

Please don't feel badly about it. You love your daughter and that's most important!

Re: How involved are you in your child's school?

I was super-involved with my DD's class and school activities in the fall. Then she asked me to stop coming so much bc none of the other moms came in as much. Hahah... So see, you're not really missing anything!

How involved are you in your child's school?

active as we can be.

We are both PTA Members but don't always make the meetings (afternoon after work, just don't go LOL)

We make all the performances
One of us is always on every field trip (Hubby's turn is Monday)
I donate scrap paper from work for the children to use in crafts
He helps set up the tables and stuff for parties
One of us makes every school party
Both of us make every parent teacher meeting
We drop her off together and he stays until the teacher leads them away
Nearly all the children and most of the parents know us by sight (though I can't say I know their names!)
AJ is in Girl Scouts so there are girls from her class and after school set that she sees often as well


We have only one.
We both work full time
I'm 8-5 and 20-30mins away, he is 830-530 and 10min away
As we did in NY, we rotate who takes a day off for sick or school closed days

We make a huge effort to be involved but its almost as if some of the SAHM think I do it to make up for the fact she's in afterschool care until 6pm. We have to fit her in. Its the reason we moved to San Antonio, so we could be more involved. I just couldn't manage it in Long Island.

Do I think every parent should? Nah. Been to the fieldtrip and only 3 other mothers came. so 4 moms out of a group of 22 kids. He went to the xmas party and said only half had parent representation. Even the midday xmas performance for kindergarten didn't really have all the parents there (a lot but not all). I think its a balancing act.

So many here in this City are in the military, my neighborhood/school area included. So many kids barely see their mom/dad every day of every week. So hey, you didn't make it to my school field trip/show/party...... who cares? You made it home for xmas or you were here for my birthday or you were just here one day when I had a nightmare. Those are the moments that really count. Says me, the Navy kid who saw her father only 3m a year.

You do what you can

Spending QUALITY time with your child is the most important, not who its with or where its at. Just the time you can find and share with your little ones.

Re: How involved are you in your child's school?

There are about 375 students in DS school, there are maybe 30 - 50 fairly active PTA members. When I worked full time and commuted to NYC I was barely able to do anything for his class/school. I'm not working right now so I gladly volunteer for as much as I can. We all do what we can/ choose to.

I am surprised that all the meetings are during the day. I would question your PTA President about this maybe they can alternate day, evening.

Re: How involved are you in your child's school?

Posted by Jenn627

I know you feel badly about it but my mom and dad weren't at ALL involved in my elementary school life - they both worked two jobs. If I ever was upset about it - A) I don't remember, and B) I'm sure if I came to them, they didn't coddle me and probably just said "this is our life sweetie".

Please don't feel badly about it. You love your daughter and that's most important!

Re: How involved are you in your child's school?

I would love to be involved but work too. My one daughter goes to a special Ed school. I'd love to be on the PTA and be at all those functions. Their meetings are during the day too. I have made very good connections and know many people there. So even though I am not "involved" I do feel an attachment to her school.
My other daughter goes to preschool and the parents were only invited once to an open house at night. That's it.
The way I think of it, I work so I Can provide for them. But I do understand your feelings.

Re: How involved are you in your child's school?

I'm fairly involved. I do volunteer at the book fair twice a year, volunteer to go on field trips, and I'm one of the class moms. I work part time afternoon/evenings so my days can be pretty flexible. But I never attend PTA meetings because they're always at night when I'm working. We don't go to many of the weekend things because we usually have something of our own going on. But we are all going to the Valentines Dance tonight.

How involved are you in your child's school?

It sucks when they only have stuff in the day but don't beat yourself up. Your child will understand and most likely not even think about it.

I work evenings, but have no interest in being involved. My concern is more the academics and how DS is doing in school. I do attend stuff that he is in like Halloween parade etc. But even as a part-time work mom,
I miss important stuff like his first Christmas Pageant because it was held on the evening I taught.

I volunteer to bring stuff in for parties and I made mash potatoes for their Thanksgiving Feast. But I don't volunteer my time, I'm horrible. Lol

Message edited 2/7/2014 8:48:33 AM.

Re: How involved are you in your child's school?

I try to make school events and activities a priority. I work part time (30 hrs) so I can do this. Our preschool doesn't have a PTA but I plan to be very involved in the PTA in elementary school.

Re: How involved are you in your child's school?

Re: How involved are you in your child's school?

Re: How involved are you in your child's school?

I don't work so I have more time to participate. I won't take on any committees but I do offer to help here and there.

Re: How involved are you in your child's school?

Honestly, being FTWM in a very high pressure, fast paced, demanding corporate job....not that much. I don't get to go in to volunteer to help out bc I save that time for special days....Christmas shows, field day, the big days.

Like you said, PTA and all of the other involvement is during the day, and anything after-hours, I just don't have the time to commit.

Re: How involved are you in your child's school?

Very. I am a SAHM and this is why being a SAHM was so important to me.

I am part of the PTA. I am class mom. I help run all of the activities we do at school. Fundraisers, bake sales, book sales. If anything is going on at school I am present for it. Trips included. I feel very blessed to be in the position to be able to be so involved.

Re: How involved are you in your child's school?

My mother was never involved in PTA when I was a kid and was a SAHM (did not have a car). Dad took his car to work. I was not affected in a negative way because she was not involved. They went to special parent teacher meetings that was it. Since I am SAHM now, I plan on being involved with my son's PTA when he enters in the fall. I also have a DD but she is only18 months. When I do go back FT I may have to give it up ... but what can you do. Do the best you can ...that is all you can do and I'm sure your children will be fine.

Re: How involved are you in your child's school?

Posted by Mere09

Posted by Sash

I volunteer to bring stuff in for parties and I made mash potatoes for their Thanksgiving Feast. But I don't volunteer my time, I'm horrible. Lol

I'm the same way. (My DD is only in 4K.)
Although I am signed up for a field trip coming up in May.