Personally, I know a lot of parents who look forward to attending their child(ren)’s back-to-school night and see it as either a joyful escape out…alone…without the kids, or an important ritual marking the beginning of a new school year and not to be missed under any circumstances.
However, I am NOT one of them.
Having 4 kids attending 4 different schools, this year (yes, in the same town) I feel it safe to say that its starts to feel old after a while (like me) and, quite frankly, I could think about a million other things to do OTHER than leaning against a cement block wall, in a
standing-room only crowd of people, and listening to the same thing, over and over again.
Even the laundry starts to look good and just thinking of ALL those parent/teacher conferences is enough to make me want to hang onto summer, just a little longer.
[kicks calendar under desk]
This year, however, I’ve got a freshman in high school.
[shiver]
And I told my husband, Garth (not his real name) that we HAVE to go and, for you OTHER newbies, I came up with these Six Steps to Surviving Back-to-School Night:
1. Find out if you can bring the kids and then DON’T!
Make the necessary arrangements, call in a few favors, or do whatever you HAVE to in order to get your butt to the school, ALONE. Seeing as I’ll be spending the rest of the year trying to remember the name of ALL 16 teachers and, you know, which one of my kids they happen to be teaching, let alone hollering, "SIT DOWN," at the wrong kid!
2. Devise a strategy if you need to visit more than one child’s classroom and then FUGHETTABOUTIT.
You will find yourself side-tracked, no matter how hard you try, you know, not to. But, if you do manage to avoid bumping into other people and don’t get lost in the myriad of hallways, two sizes too small for your adult-sized frame, a quick peek will do just fine.
3. Bring a pen and paper and then LEAVE IT IN THE CAR.
Sadly, first impressions are important and – seeing as PTA members are always looking for new recruits – do you really want to be seen, you know, taking good notes?
4. Don’t ask specific questions about your child – in fact, DON’T SAY ANYTHING.
Catching your child’s teacher off-guard, or unprepared in front of all the other parents, is NEVER a good idea, really.
5. Be ready to be asked to volunteer.
See numbers 3 and 4 (listed above) and then RUN LIKE HELL!
Trust me, you (and your child) will thank me, one day.
I’m sure there’s more – feel free to add yours, as I just can’t remember them, at them moment – in the meantime, did any of you happen to see Garth (not his real name) I mean, he WAS here just a minute ago and I thought I heard him say something about going out to the car and finding a pen and piece of…hey…wait a minute?
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Comments
16 responses to “Six Easy Steps to Surviving Back-to-School Night”
Oh my gosh, this is so exactly true. My girls are little still, but I’m going to keep this in the back of my mind so I can remember when they are older.
Oh my gosh, this is so exactly true. My girls are little still, but I’m going to keep this in the back of my mind so I can remember when they are older.
Oh my gosh, this is so exactly true. My girls are little still, but I’m going to keep this in the back of my mind so I can remember when they are older.
Oh my gosh, this is so exactly true. My girls are little still, but I’m going to keep this in the back of my mind so I can remember when they are older.
Here we have a First Day of School Holiday *and* a back to school picnic/open house thingy separated by about a week. (This is elementary level). I love my kids, I think the teachers are great, but Geeez!
Here we have a First Day of School Holiday *and* a back to school picnic/open house thingy separated by about a week. (This is elementary level). I love my kids, I think the teachers are great, but Geeez!
Here we have a First Day of School Holiday *and* a back to school picnic/open house thingy separated by about a week. (This is elementary level). I love my kids, I think the teachers are great, but Geeez!
Here we have a First Day of School Holiday *and* a back to school picnic/open house thingy separated by about a week. (This is elementary level). I love my kids, I think the teachers are great, but Geeez!
Dude, you give the best advice. 🙂 No back to school nights for me just yet, but I’m filing this away for future ref. 🙂
Dude, you give the best advice. 🙂 No back to school nights for me just yet, but I’m filing this away for future ref. 🙂
Dude, you give the best advice. 🙂 No back to school nights for me just yet, but I’m filing this away for future ref. 🙂
Dude, you give the best advice. 🙂 No back to school nights for me just yet, but I’m filing this away for future ref. 🙂
Hi everybody. This is my first visit to Full House and I like what I see. Speaking of school nights…my 9th grader’s open house was canceled due to a bomb threat (read story at http://www.smyrnawire.blogspot.com. What a way to get outta’ Open House!
Hi everybody. This is my first visit to Full House and I like what I see. Speaking of school nights…my 9th grader’s open house was canceled due to a bomb threat (read story at http://www.smyrnawire.blogspot.com. What a way to get outta’ Open House!
Hi everybody. This is my first visit to Full House and I like what I see. Speaking of school nights…my 9th grader’s open house was canceled due to a bomb threat (read story at http://www.smyrnawire.blogspot.com. What a way to get outta’ Open House!
Hi everybody. This is my first visit to Full House and I like what I see. Speaking of school nights…my 9th grader’s open house was canceled due to a bomb threat (read story at http://www.smyrnawire.blogspot.com. What a way to get outta’ Open House!