Why do so many SAHMs insist on PTA or activity meetings during the school day?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why won't they meet in the evenings or after the kids go to bed? Do your husband not allow it? Do you not trust them to be alone with the children? This has happened to me multiple times over the past several years where I've proposed meeting at 7pm or 8:30pm and they say they can't because it's dinner time, kids bedtime, they have so much to do. Please explain.

They have explained and you don’t want to hear the explanation. They are busy at those times. Not everything can be worked around what is convenient for you. If you were really needed they would try to accommodate you, but clearly they are fine without you.

lol ok. well then stop complaining about the lack of volunteers.

It’s fine. You weren’t going to come to the meeting anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why won't they meet in the evenings or after the kids go to bed? Do your husband not allow it? Do you not trust them to be alone with the children? This has happened to me multiple times over the past several years where I've proposed meeting at 7pm or 8:30pm and they say they can't because it's dinner time, kids bedtime, they have so much to do. Please explain.

An 8:30pm meeting is late!

I think a 6:30 or even 7 PM start time meeting is a good compromise.

[Anonymous]

Evening meetings are hard for everyone. No one likes them, working or SAH. Kids have sports practice, games to attend, music lessons, dinner, help with homework, and then times this by multiple kids in families.

Sometimes spouses work late or aren’t home, sometimes/and very often the case, the spouse has to take one kid somewhere while you have to take another kid somewhere. And someone needs to cook dinner as well.

Daytime meetings are more convenient for SAH parents. As where night meetings are convenient to no one. Whoever is leading the PTA gets to decide what the best schedule is for them since they are the one that is obligated to be there every time, next factor is who else will actually show up and what is the best availability for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Evening meetings are hard for everyone. No one likes them, working or SAH. Kids have sports practice, games to attend, music lessons, dinner, help with homework, and then times this by multiple kids in families.

Sometimes spouses work late or aren’t home, sometimes/and very often the case, the spouse has to take one kid somewhere while you have to take another kid somewhere. And someone needs to cook dinner as well.

Daytime meetings are more convenient for SAH parents. As where night meetings are convenient to no one. Whoever is leading the PTA gets to decide what the best schedule is for them since they are the one that is obligated to be there every time, next factor is who else will actually show up and what is the best availability for them.

This is a complete SAHM fantasy. Our elementary did 6pm meetings (with babysitting/pizza provided) and it was fine. That’s the most sensible time and nobody could object. SAHs can have the parent watch the kids or bring them to the meetings; WOHs can usually make a 6pm meeting after work with enough notice. And the truth is SAHMs have more flexible schedules so that’s why the PTA meetings don’t need to cater to them. Anyone who tried to schedule a daytime PTA meeting at our school would have been laughed out of the room.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Evening meetings are hard for everyone. No one likes them, working or SAH. Kids have sports practice, games to attend, music lessons, dinner, help with homework, and then times this by multiple kids in families.

Sometimes spouses work late or aren’t home, sometimes/and very often the case, the spouse has to take one kid somewhere while you have to take another kid somewhere. And someone needs to cook dinner as well.

Daytime meetings are more convenient for SAH parents. As where night meetings are convenient to no one. Whoever is leading the PTA gets to decide what the best schedule is for them since they are the one that is obligated to be there every time, next factor is who else will actually show up and what is the best availability for them.

This is a complete SAHM fantasy. Our elementary did 6pm meetings (with babysitting/pizza provided) and it was fine. That’s the most sensible time and nobody could object. SAHs can have the parent watch the kids or bring them to the meetings; WOHs can usually make a 6pm meeting after work with enough notice. And the truth is SAHMs have more flexible schedules so that’s why the PTA meetings don’t need to cater to them. Anyone who tried to schedule a daytime PTA meeting at our school would have been laughed out of the room.

Nobody could object? My you really do think you can speak for all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Evening meetings are hard for everyone. No one likes them, working or SAH. Kids have sports practice, games to attend, music lessons, dinner, help with homework, and then times this by multiple kids in families.

Sometimes spouses work late or aren’t home, sometimes/and very often the case, the spouse has to take one kid somewhere while you have to take another kid somewhere. And someone needs to cook dinner as well.

Daytime meetings are more convenient for SAH parents. As where night meetings are convenient to no one. Whoever is leading the PTA gets to decide what the best schedule is for them since they are the one that is obligated to be there every time, next factor is who else will actually show up and what is the best availability for them.

This is a complete SAHM fantasy. Our elementary did 6pm meetings (with babysitting/pizza provided) and it was fine. That’s the most sensible time and nobody could object. SAHs can have the parent watch the kids or bring them to the meetings; WOHs can usually make a 6pm meeting after work with enough notice. And the truth is SAHMs have more flexible schedules so that’s why the PTA meetings don’t need to cater to them. Anyone who tried to schedule a daytime PTA meeting at our school would have been laughed out of the room.

Many schools cannot provide dinner and babysitting for meetings and many spouses are NOT home by 6 pm from work. You think everyone works 9-5? In what world are you living?

[Anonymous]

Are we talking about small PTA committee meetings or school wide PTA meetings?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why won't they meet in the evenings or after the kids go to bed? Do your husband not allow it? Do you not trust them to be alone with the children? This has happened to me multiple times over the past several years where I've proposed meeting at 7pm or 8:30pm and they say they can't because it's dinner time, kids bedtime, they have so much to do. Please explain.

Because the working parents do not show uo for evening events. At least at the schools I was in pta. So we did when it was convenient for the people doing the work

+1

We do a mix of day/evenings when we have engaged working parents.

Also, when we meet with the administration it’s easier for them to do it during the day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Evening meetings are hard for everyone. No one likes them, working or SAH. Kids have sports practice, games to attend, music lessons, dinner, help with homework, and then times this by multiple kids in families.

Sometimes spouses work late or aren’t home, sometimes/and very often the case, the spouse has to take one kid somewhere while you have to take another kid somewhere. And someone needs to cook dinner as well.

Daytime meetings are more convenient for SAH parents. As where night meetings are convenient to no one. Whoever is leading the PTA gets to decide what the best schedule is for them since they are the one that is obligated to be there every time, next factor is who else will actually show up and what is the best availability for them.

This is a complete SAHM fantasy. Our elementary did 6pm meetings (with babysitting/pizza provided) and it was fine. That’s the most sensible time and nobody could object. SAHs can have the parent watch the kids or bring them to the meetings; WOHs can usually make a 6pm meeting after work with enough notice. And the truth is SAHMs have more flexible schedules so that’s why the PTA meetings don’t need to cater to them. Anyone who tried to schedule a daytime PTA meeting at our school would have been laughed out of the room.

Our ES tried both 5 pm (non PTA, this was for school run) and 7 pm (PTA, often after the school run) meetings, and they were incredibly lightly attended. School of over 700 kids and maybe 10 parents would show up to any meeting. I have 3 kids, all in activities. There is exactly 1 night a week that I wouldn't have to flex my schedule to be somewhere.

Our school also did daytime parent coffees. They quit those because so few people came.

Night meetings are convenient for no-one is correct. Daytime meetings immediately after dropoff are convenient for some SAHPs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Evening meetings are hard for everyone. No one likes them, working or SAH. Kids have sports practice, games to attend, music lessons, dinner, help with homework, and then times this by multiple kids in families.

Sometimes spouses work late or aren’t home, sometimes/and very often the case, the spouse has to take one kid somewhere while you have to take another kid somewhere. And someone needs to cook dinner as well.

Daytime meetings are more convenient for SAH parents. As where night meetings are convenient to no one. Whoever is leading the PTA gets to decide what the best schedule is for them since they are the one that is obligated to be there every time, next factor is who else will actually show up and what is the best availability for them.

This is a complete SAHM fantasy. Our elementary did 6pm meetings (with babysitting/pizza provided) and it was fine. That’s the most sensible time and nobody could object. SAHs can have the parent watch the kids or bring them to the meetings; WOHs can usually make a 6pm meeting after work with enough notice. And the truth is SAHMs have more flexible schedules so that’s why the PTA meetings don’t need to cater to them. Anyone who tried to schedule a daytime PTA meeting at our school would have been laughed out of the room.

Nobody could object? My you really do think you can speak for all.

The PTA needs to be inclusive for the whole school. Picking a meeting time that a big chunk of parents could never attend is obviously inappropriate. 6pm is indisputably a time that everyone except late-shift workers have the best chance of making. I don’t think anyone at our school would even have attempted to schedule a daytime PTA meeting - they would have been laughed out of the room.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Evening meetings are hard for everyone. No one likes them, working or SAH. Kids have sports practice, games to attend, music lessons, dinner, help with homework, and then times this by multiple kids in families.

Sometimes spouses work late or aren’t home, sometimes/and very often the case, the spouse has to take one kid somewhere while you have to take another kid somewhere. And someone needs to cook dinner as well.

Daytime meetings are more convenient for SAH parents. As where night meetings are convenient to no one. Whoever is leading the PTA gets to decide what the best schedule is for them since they are the one that is obligated to be there every time, next factor is who else will actually show up and what is the best availability for them.

This is a complete SAHM fantasy. Our elementary did 6pm meetings (with babysitting/pizza provided) and it was fine. That’s the most sensible time and nobody could object. SAHs can have the parent watch the kids or bring them to the meetings; WOHs can usually make a 6pm meeting after work with enough notice. And the truth is SAHMs have more flexible schedules so that’s why the PTA meetings don’t need to cater to them. Anyone who tried to schedule a daytime PTA meeting at our school would have been laughed out of the room.

Our ES tried both 5 pm (non PTA, this was for school run) and 7 pm (PTA, often after the school run) meetings, and they were incredibly lightly attended. School of over 700 kids and maybe 10 parents would show up to any meeting. I have 3 kids, all in activities. There is exactly 1 night a week that I wouldn't have to flex my schedule to be somewhere.

Our school also did daytime parent coffees. They quit those because so few people came.

Night meetings are convenient for no-one is correct. Daytime meetings immediately after dropoff are convenient for some SAHPs.

Night meetings may not be convenient, but day time meetings mean working parents aren't welcome at all

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Evening meetings are hard for everyone. No one likes them, working or SAH. Kids have sports practice, games to attend, music lessons, dinner, help with homework, and then times this by multiple kids in families.

Sometimes spouses work late or aren’t home, sometimes/and very often the case, the spouse has to take one kid somewhere while you have to take another kid somewhere. And someone needs to cook dinner as well.

Daytime meetings are more convenient for SAH parents. As where night meetings are convenient to no one. Whoever is leading the PTA gets to decide what the best schedule is for them since they are the one that is obligated to be there every time, next factor is who else will actually show up and what is the best availability for them.

This is a complete SAHM fantasy. Our elementary did 6pm meetings (with babysitting/pizza provided) and it was fine. That’s the most sensible time and nobody could object. SAHs can have the parent watch the kids or bring them to the meetings; WOHs can usually make a 6pm meeting after work with enough notice. And the truth is SAHMs have more flexible schedules so that’s why the PTA meetings don’t need to cater to them. Anyone who tried to schedule a daytime PTA meeting at our school would have been laughed out of the room.

Many schools cannot provide dinner and babysitting for meetings and many spouses are NOT home by 6 pm from work. You think everyone works 9-5? In what world are you living?

It’s still the best time and babysitting is a nominal cost. Or you can just bring the kids with you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Evening meetings are hard for everyone. No one likes them, working or SAH. Kids have sports practice, games to attend, music lessons, dinner, help with homework, and then times this by multiple kids in families.

Sometimes spouses work late or aren’t home, sometimes/and very often the case, the spouse has to take one kid somewhere while you have to take another kid somewhere. And someone needs to cook dinner as well.

Daytime meetings are more convenient for SAH parents. As where night meetings are convenient to no one. Whoever is leading the PTA gets to decide what the best schedule is for them since they are the one that is obligated to be there every time, next factor is who else will actually show up and what is the best availability for them.

This is a complete SAHM fantasy. Our elementary did 6pm meetings (with babysitting/pizza provided) and it was fine. That’s the most sensible time and nobody could object. SAHs can have the parent watch the kids or bring them to the meetings; WOHs can usually make a 6pm meeting after work with enough notice. And the truth is SAHMs have more flexible schedules so that’s why the PTA meetings don’t need to cater to them. Anyone who tried to schedule a daytime PTA meeting at our school would have been laughed out of the room.

Our ES tried both 5 pm (non PTA, this was for school run) and 7 pm (PTA, often after the school run) meetings, and they were incredibly lightly attended. School of over 700 kids and maybe 10 parents would show up to any meeting. I have 3 kids, all in activities. There is exactly 1 night a week that I wouldn't have to flex my schedule to be somewhere.

Our school also did daytime parent coffees. They quit those because so few people came.

Night meetings are convenient for no-one is correct. Daytime meetings immediately after dropoff are convenient for some SAHPs.

Night meetings may not be convenient, but day time meetings mean working parents aren't welcome at all

Exactly. And if you cannot get any parents to come to the 6pm meetings it’s because you run a clown car PTA that nobody takes seriously.

[Anonymous]

At my kids’ elementary, they tried evening meetings and not many came. They switched meetings to 8AM (school start time of 8AM) and had much better attendance. Working parents who wanted to attend would just start work late that day, and most SAHPs preferred it. They also live-streamed the meetings.

I didn’t have any say in scheduling, just saying how it worked at our school.

[Anonymous]

We all prioritize what's important to us. If you have a doctor or dentist appointment, you duck out of work for a couple hours in the middle of the day. If the PTA were that important to you and meetings were held 9-5, you'd do the same. If it's not that important to you, so be it. Who cares?