End of the year school activities and working parents
Though my kids have been out of school for a couple of weeks, I’m just now recovering from all the end of the year activities.
Or, I should say my job is just now recovering.
I have missed a good bit of work over the past few weeks due to school events, especially those of my 8th grader who just graduated.
I thought it was just me overwhelmed with the end of the year school activities, but it turns out I’m not alone, many other working parents feel the same way about the end of the school year:
But as thousands of working parents across the country know, this can be the cruelest season of the year, logistically speaking, when dozens of these end-of-school-year events collide with work obligations, over and over again.
It’s not just a matter of having an understanding employer, although that certainly helps. Even for those in the most flexible workplaces, a series of three-hour absences can sabotage a week.
I joke about taking my entire vacation 4 hours at a time, and I feel like I’m actually doing it. I’ve loved every minute of the activities and I am fortunate that I got to attend, but I’ve used a lot of vacation time, and will barely be able to cover my actual vacation.
Predictably, the article quotes some expert who blames parents over scheduling kids (don’t they always?), but almost every obligation I had was school related and had nothing to do with outside activities.
Indeed, it’s an especially rough time of year for working parents, and I hope workplaces begin to acknowledge it.
I’ve felt the same thing this last month. My pre k child had a party, a field trip and graduation in the same week.
I totally know how you feel with the vacation time thing. I’ve taken a day here and a day there until there’s just barely anything left for the next function or appointment or cold..
Elizabeth, I share your concern. It must have been tough for you.
..I am just typing these thoughts as I mull over my two kids’ personal development. We keep sending them to various camps which would teach them to be resourceful and independent. We sent them to a dinosaur digging camp by Mad Science. The theme was dinosaurs for the Munchkins (pre-k and kindergarten) and Rascals (first- and
The modern times call for us to be ‘fighting fit’ at all times. Eating the right anti-oxidants, sweating it out at cardios and of working harder to elevate ourselves on the career ladder. All of these means to achieve one end, which is to give the best to kids. I guess that is the whole purpose of us being blessed to become humans.
Once we invest all that we have and keep enjoying our lives simultaneously as kids go from teenage to adulthood, our job is done. We can relax and share the moments with successful grown up individuals of our own making. I am not preaching here
second-graders). Campers made fossils, went on a dinosaur egg hunt, touched real dinosaur
bones and poop, dug for fossils, made dinosaur tooth casts, created a shooting volcano and, in a
collaborative effort, constructed and painted a large dinosaur. Now my kids are on their way for the whole vacation I hope. I have given them access to our internet and they are busy gathering notes on the T-Rexes and Stegasoraus.
We need to keep the kids busy all the times and try out innovative activities during summer but we do get some relaxed time as well. No early wake-ups so that we can stretch the nights a little longer….
When they’re in college, the end of the year (and the beginning) involve taking a chunk of days off to get them moved in and out of an apartment or dorm in a city states away. I’m fortunate that I’m allowed the days off, but I still feel guilty asking for the time. Then I have to remind myself where my priorities lie. It’s just a job. And it’s my kid. Sometimes I can make up some of the time away on a weekend or a ‘Monday holiday’ or something. Having the flexibility is really helpful.
I’ve been pretty lucky with balancing when I need to take time off work but that’s because, before I became a freelance writer, I was a nurse who worked shift work. Still, we did have to juggle stuff sometimes. And it’s usually mom who does, although more dads are now too.
My youngest (of three) just finished his last exam for high school today. His prom was last Friday and his ceremonies are this coming Monday. Wow. I just can’t believe how fast that went by.
Marijke
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