Is it bad form to bring your kids to back to school night?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We moved here a few weeks ago and don't know or trust anyone yet to babysit. Our kids are in elementary so they know how to behave and sit still. Would it be okay to bring them? Spouse and I will need to split time between classrooms so staying at home with one parent is not an option.

People do it all the time - they are not going to kick you out. Give your child a book to either sit outside the classroom or sit quietly in the classroom.

If the option is:
1 - not attend
2 - attend with child

Go with #2.

People will give you the evil eye - ignore them. As long as your child is not making noise / being disruptive it is not an issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Yes, but some do because they have no choice. You do what you need to do, OP.

That's my feeling, too. If the school really doesn't want parents to bring kids, then the school needs to provide child care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's discouraged, but no one is going to kick out of back to school night over lack of childcare (and your situation is completely understandable in that regard). Some schools do two sessions during back to school night with the same teacher presentations at each specifically for parents who have more than one class to attend. Do you know if your school does that? If so, one parent could stay home with the kids.

Only one parent typically goes then. It is rare for kids to go.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for your replies. Unfortunately there is only one session. I'll just duck out of one early.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for your replies. Unfortunately there is only one session. I'll just duck out of one early.

That is surprising! What school system is this?

[Anonymous]

I think most schools discourage bringing kids unless the PTA or aftercare provider has on-site childcare. But there are always parents who bring little sibs or their kids and it is always totally fine IMO.
I don't think badly of those parents and I can't imagine the teachers or admin does either. Sometimes you just can't swing a babysitter or they cancelled at the last minute or whatever. Just hand them a book and have them sit in one of the hallways.

[Anonymous]

My kids school discourages it but it is allowed. With a partner who is out of town a lot, this has meant bringing the kids on occasion and leaving them in the hall with a book. This year he was gone for both back to school nights, I skipped the principals speech both nights (it was transcribed and sent out) and just went to the 45 minute teacher portion, this year I left my kids home alone as they are now old enough to be on their own for 45 min.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for your replies. Unfortunately there is only one session. I'll just duck out of one early.

My assumption is the school has 1 session and you have multiple kids so to attend "back to school night" and get the info from all of the teachers sending 2 parents is the only option.

Do it. You are brand new to the school. Things that others have learned over the years you do not know.

[Anonymous]

I always brought my DD. I can't afford a babysitter. They just have to deal with it. I had DD bring some stuff to entertain her in a backpack.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Yes, but some do because they have no choice. You do what you need to do, OP.

No, how about following the very clear, explicit instructions provided by the school.
OP, as others have said, most school understand one parent going between multiple presentations. Also (top secret info coming up here) Back to School not is really not the be-all, end-all of school info. You'll have parent teacher conferences, PTA meetings, and can always schedule a meeting with any staff person you need to speak with about specific matters. If there are handouts, simply ask the teacher to send them home with student.
There are a million legitimate reasons why someone can't make back-to-school night. Not the end of the world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Yes, but some do because they have no choice. You do what you need to do, OP.

No, how about following the very clear, explicit instructions provided by the school.
OP, as others have said, most school understand one parent going between multiple presentations. Also (top secret info coming up here) Back to School not is really not the be-all, end-all of school info. You'll have parent teacher conferences, PTA meetings, and can always schedule a meeting with any staff person you need to speak with about specific matters. If there are handouts, simply ask the teacher to send them home with student.
There are a million legitimate reasons why someone can't make back-to-school night. Not the end of the world.

Parents do not exist for the convenience of the school. If the only way you can go to back-to-school night is to bring your child(ren), then bring your child(ren).

[Anonymous]

Don't bring them, super rude.
It's a perfect occasion to try out a new babysitter.

[Anonymous]

There are always a bunch of parents who bring their children. If there isn't someone to watch them, just bring them.

[Anonymous]

OP, bring your kids. I was a SAHM and had 3 kids at once at an elementary in ward 3, ok Janney. Most of the moms WOHM so they had babysitters in a rotation that they could call upon easily. My DH also traveled for work a lot.

I got dirty looks from all the WOHMs when I would walk in with my 3 kids in tow but I didn't GAF and you shouldn't either. Everyone has different resources given different situations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't bring them, super rude.
It's a perfect occasion to try out a new babysitter.

What is rude to ask parents to make an expenditure they don't want to make and force them to leave their kids (perhaps for the first time) with some random stranger that they call on SitterCity.com or whatever just for three hours or so. I had 4 kids total, one was 2, the rest in elementary.

I had a rando sitter quote me $100.00 to sit the 4 of them for 4 hours during BTSN. I said no and brought the kids with me. You should too, without any hesitation.

One time I found an AU student who watched them during a Parent Social evening. When I came home, the tub on the top floor of our house had flooded and my 5 y o was crying inconsolably (they weren't used to babysitters.) Didn't do it again until the youngest was 5--but it still was a strain. It's an unfair burden on SAHparents.