Fundraiser, anyone?

Another new element to grade-school fundraising: now, in addition to raising money for our own PTA and school needs, we are raising money for everyone else's needs as well. The entire district sells those major discount cards. How many do they think we'll need if everyone in the entire district is selling them? I guess if they can sucker us each into buying one or two, it's a good thing. Now, the PE department is in the act with a jump roping campaign. Now, I'm as much in support of being community-minded as the next mom, but how many fundraisers do we really need a kindergartener to participate in? And can he even jump rope?

I also love that they tell kids NOT to go door-to-door. Sure, this is an advancement in safety for kids, but it's also underlining the obvious method for fundraising: Ask your parents and every family member to give money to this cause, along with all of the other causes, so that you can stay safe, and we can make money. Even better, sucker your mom or dad into taking your fundraising form to work! No one there has fundraisers to contribute to at their own kids' schools.

Our family budget is now prepared for the never-ending rounds of fundraising. We budget at least $20 per month just to off-set whatever fundraiser comes home. I'm sure there is something we haven't sold yet. I'm just not sure what it is.

Back to School!

I felt like a prisoner who had been freed from captivity when both my little birds were safely in their schools yesterday. Anyone else? I guess that answers my previous post about parents waiting for school to start again, doesn't it?

For some reason, school seems much more managable than I remembered it. We're still getting little reminders about this special event or that parent activity or the ever-changing rotation of "specials", but it all seems less daunting than before. Maybe it's because I'm a semester-seasoned mom now.

Yesterday, my kindergartener told me that he has a "School brain" and a "life brain." When he's in life, he doesn't remember anything at all from school. This was his way of explaining why he never plans to give me the juicy details on his day in the classroom. I'd better be happy to take what I can get. Do any of you other kindergarten parents get this same kind of communication string? Or are your kids happily sharing the details of their school day?

Our first break: The one that won't end

We just finished our first "winter" break. Well, officially. In reality, it keeps going on, and on, and on.

Our break was a good one. It was a struggle to get back into routine-- bedtime, awake time-- for that one day back to school we had before we were out for inclement weather. I guess we'll fight the good fight again next week.

My kindergartener was THRILLED to go back to school on Tuesday. His teacher sent him a postcard over break that he was really excited to receive, and he was anxious to see his friends. They learned about "invisible buckets" and being a bucket filler or a bucket dipper. Seemed like a great lesson for kindergarteners. I thought to myself, "Wow, if they'd only figure that out now, it would save them a lot of grief in Junior High." I won't hold my breath.

So, here we are. Back at home after one day of school. My guess is we'll be out the rest of the week. NOW what are we supposed to do? We've played with all the Christmas toys, watched the movies, been to the movies, made dozens of christmas cookies. It was way easier to come up with things before the holidays. Now I'm out of ideas. If we can make it to Friday alive, I'll consider the week a success.

"And Mom and Dad can hardly wait for school to start again..."

"Is that true, Mom?" asked my son when that song was on the radio a couple of days ago.

"Ask me in a couple of weeks and I'll let you know," was my response.

What is it that makes kids so excited to get out of school for two weeks. Correct that, kindergartners. I mean, it's not like kindergarten isn't big fun time, and my son tells everyone how much he loves it. So why the rush to be out of school? Do they read it from the teachers' faces or the kids who have big brothers and sisters? Why the rush?

It seems like they are out an eternity from school these days. Not just the 23rd or 24th, but the whole week before and after Christmas. It's enough time to enjoy time with family AND friends. I feel a little relieved myself. That is, until my kids start fighting.

Snow days

I learned some valuable lessons during our first official snow day:


1) That phone tree is so helpful and friendly, but very, very early in the morning. It’s like a snooze alarm that goes off 2 hours before you really want to get up on your newly-declared day off.

2) The term “snow day” is somewhat confusing for kindergarteners, particularly with no snow on the ground.

3) Snow days come with built-in parenting expectations of fun and fabulousness that are difficult to live up to. Days off are supposed to be filled with special, snow-day awesomeness involving complicated crafts, cookie-making, or fort-building. It has to be more than just your average Saturday—moms are required to bring the fun home, without a trip to Target. Tough.

4) I’m not sure how it is for SAHMs, but for this part-time mom, a whole day off with kids, with crafts, is rather exhausting. It’s much easier and more restful to just go to the office.

5) A full day of togetherness for 3 people who do not normally spend that much time together in the home results in a roller-coaster emotional effect. The transition between “wow mommy! This is the best day ever!” to a tattle-telling whinefest is very quick and leaves the rider a bit dizzy. The injury report list is a long one.

Class gift

It's Christmastime. They can't call it that at school, but they can paint pictures of santa and take a two week "holiday" but just not talk about Christmas. Fine. But should we still have to give the teacher a christmas gift? Of course. Naturally, I want to do something nice with the person who spends the most time with my child. So, I'd already planned a gift. Nothing big, but a token of my appreciation.

Last week I got an email from one of our two class moms. She wants to give everyone the opportunity to go in on a class gift, which sounds quite nice. The card will include all children, regardless of whether we pitched in.

So, here's the question: should we particpate in the class gift or a personal gift? If we do one, does it really remove the need to do both, or will that be expected anyway? If my gift is less exciting than the class gift, will my child be shunned by the teacher and be forced to learn from the hallway? Help.

Nickels and dimes

Do any of you grade school moms feel nickel-and-dimed to death this time of year? Maybe it's not just seasonal, maybe it's a regular thing. But it seems like every time I turn around, there is another fundraiser, classroom supply purchase, t-shirt, picture something that I am supposed to support. In the last two weeks, we'd been asked for 18 eggs, 12 juice boxes, 24 fruit snacks, holiday magnets from the school pictures, $5 for a school dance fundraiser, and that might be it. Doesn't that seem a lot for one child? I thought so.

It's not that I don't want to help, or be financially supportive of classroom activities, but I do wish that they could do all of this up front. Send home a note that says, "I know you want to support your child's learning experience this year. Your contributions help us supplement our school funds with supplies for additional activities. Instead of my asking for $5 every other week, I'm asking that you pledge an amount up front to help with activities: $5/month, $50/year, or the "Other/I don't want my kid to have fun or learn" box.

I know this is not getting better, it will only get worse. I just wonder if there isn't a better way?