I must have missed the memo about how uncoordinated and poorly run public school activities are for working parents. I complained before about bad timing for daycare activities, but those were few and far between so they didn't require too much complaining or planning to work around. Now that I have a kindergartner, I'm indoctrinated into the real work of the horrible life of a working mom.
School ends at 2:45. Let's start there. Really? Who can get their kid every day at 2:45 and hold down a steady job? (especially at a commuter school like the one I'm at where you have to be in line by 1:55 for that 2:45 pickup!) Which is why some brilliant entrepreneurs started after school programs! Yay! Thank you!
Now what about the days that my kid has some sort of instrument class? Pick him up when he's done at 4:40? Okay, easy enough... I will plan to do that one day a week, no problem.
Kindergarten open house? Sweet! Let's go! Oh, wait - just got a memo that NO KIDS ARE ALLOWED? Really? REALLY? So either one parent can't go, or I have to pay $50 for a babysitter? Awesome.
End of year music concert for my kid with an instrument: 3pm on a Thursday? REALLY? COME ON!
And I thought work-life balance was tough with a little kid. It's even harder with a big kid!
Cheers to you, working mothers! I'm in awe that you have been managing this for so long. I'm in week 3 and I'm tired already.
