Strollerderby : parent-teacher conferences

Balancing Work and Parenting—When You're the First Lady

Hannah Tennant-Moore — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 23:00:00 GMT

It’s hard to think of a more challenging place to balance work and parenting than the White House. But in an interview with Newsweek, Michelle Obama explains how she plans to continuing to being a “mom first.”

Fortunately, according to Michelle, Barack “loves hard work” and she loves “timetables and timelines and all that good stuff,” so they’re maintaining their cool in the face of a massive transition.

She hopes to continue keeping family life separate from work life, which she says she and Barack have mostly managed to do for the last year-and-a-half. She acknowledges that it will doubtless become more challenging once they’re in the White House, but says that “staying connected to friends and family who know you” helps. To the end, she’s hoping that her mother will move to D.C. with them, so she can continue to be actively involved in her granddaughters' lives.

Michelle has been adamant about finding the right schools for Sasha and Malia, attending parent-teacher conferences and all of their events, and getting them involved in activities they’re excited about—in other words, she and Barack will remain devoted, hands-on parents “no matter what their father’s job is.”

Michelle believes this level of commitment is important not only for Sasha and Malia, but as a model for other families: if even the president of the United States helps his kids with his homework, we can all find time to help our kids with their homework. “[Kids] have to be center in this society and this nation. We have to put their education, their needs, their well-being first and foremost. As adults, we can balance the other stuff. We're the grown-ups,” Michelle said, laughing.

As for the criticism she faced on the campaign trail, Michelle said, “Regardless of how they feel about Barack or the candidates, people are decent and they're kind. They are willing to give you a chance to prove yourself to them.” Now there is a lesson to pass on to our kids.

Balancing Work and Parenting—When You're a Campaign Reporter

Strollerderby Playdate: Looking Stupid In Front Of Your Kid's Teacher

Amy S.F. Lutz — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:02:00 GMT

I have to say, playdates can be so validating. It's a tremendous relief to be reminded you're not the only screw-up parent in town.

Which was the great thing about my playdate with Ashley, from Ashley's Closet, where I heard all about how she sent her husband off to take one of her children to school, only to be met by the teacher, who informed him that, because of parent-teacher conferences, there was no school.

I've done that too! Only it wasn't so bad for me, since as soon as I saw the empty parking lot, a gigantic lightbulb went on over my head, and I drove away before anyone saw me.

Last year, my oldest daughter had a truly intimidating kindergarten teacher - an authentic British schoolmarm, who - without intending it, I'm sure - made me absolutely shrink down inside myself whenever confronted by her. I vowed to impress this lady, and not make her think my daughter was the spawn of loopy, slovenly, amnesic Grateful Dead groupies.

Why did I care so much? Because I wanted her to love my kid the best, dammit!

Of course, that plan didn't work out great, not at first. I sent Erika to school without lunch a few times, and had to sneak disgracefully into the classroom at 11:00 with a paper bag from the local bagel shop. I also did the opposite, send lunch to school on the days I had already paid for her to participate in pizza day or nugget nosh. I sent greasy worksheets back to school spotted with remnants of the snack we had eaten while completing said worksheets. I forgot to send in my picture day form on time. You get the picture.

But it all turned out right in the end. We have a 15-person passenger van (because 11 people live in our house), and I volunteered to drive it on all class field trips. So Mrs. Levy loved me, and Erika, after all.

What's the worst you've ever looked in front of your child's teacher? Am I the only mom out there insane enough to care?

Parent-Teacher Conferences: Should Kids Attend?

Karen Murphy — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 14:59:00 GMT

It's the season for parent-teacher school conferences. At least, that's what the pages and reams of papers and permission slips and questionnaires coming home this past week have been telling me. You too? I'm a little rusty at this: my kids went to a Waldorf school until this year and the conferences there involve reverently lighting a candle and then talking about the etheric nature of the child involved, and oh yes by the way he's doing wonderfully, do you want to see his paintings?

So this year in public school it's going to be different. And many people think kids should also attend, but I disagree.

The idea behind having kids attend the conferences is to "make them accountable" and to ensure that things don't get "lost in translation." (that was a movie, right?) And while I think those are worthwhile ideals, I also think that any parent doing a halfway job is already going to be effectively communicating with their kid, and maybe too that the kid is going to already feel accountable for their work. But I have kids who do well in school. Maybe it's different when there's more of a struggle.

It seems to me that involving the kid directly in the conference removes the element of communication between parent and teacher. Parents should be able to speak to teachers freely about their kids, feeling that the two of them are on a team to assist the child in his school journey. Involving kids directly in the conference process would, to my mind, make the parent feel more defensive and would likely create a parent-kid vs. teacher effect, which totally negates the point of the conference and removes the openness aspect of the experience. And again, parents should already have established an element of communication with their child so as to both know already how that conference is going to proceed and also have enacted a plan to assist wth whatever needs to be worked on.

Hmm, or is this more of my Happy Bubble World? I know some of you are teachers, and most all of you are parents; surely there are some opinions out there about this? I'd love to hear them. (and could you also please exlain why schools always smell that way?)