When you're in a meeting and school calls

[Anonymous]

I always take the call when I see the school number. Could be any number of reasons why they are calling. But today, I was in an multi hour meeting this morning and the guidance counselor called. My son was having a rough day and she wanted to discuss it. I told her I was in a meeting and I could not discuss this with her now. I told her if he was being disruptive I would leave work and come get him or I would call her back at the end of the day. She was put off by my unwillingness to discuss his behavior at the moment.

I cut her off after 10 min of listening to her. It took her that long to tell me that he was hiding under a table and wouldn't come out and that it started when he didn't want to participate in a drawing activity. What should I have said to her?

[Anonymous]

Nothing. If they can't draw a child out from under a table they shouldn't be in the education field.

My DD is 13 now but I reply when I can. They can hold her in the office, like they did a month or two ago when she got a migraine.

[Anonymous]

That they shouldn't call in the middle of the day unless it's a behavioral or medical emergency. Anything else, they can just send an email and you can schedule a time to talk about it. They need to respect your job and other responsibilities.

[Anonymous]

I am usually in meetings where I don't have to be sly about checking my phone. So if I see it's the school I will say "Excuse me, it's my child's school, I have to take this and I will be right back." Luckily, no one cares and it's never been an issue. My kid's school doesn't call unless there is a real reason, so I am generally pretty alarmed if the phone says that it's school during the day and I wouldn't let it go.

[Anonymous]

I text my husband and say that school is calling, I am in a mtg, can you call them and see what's going on?

[Anonymous]

Justice Ginsburg said that if you tell the school to call the kid's father at work, they will suddenly call less often and only for true emergencies. She swore it worked like a charm! Give it a try!

Your response was good; hers was not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I always take the call when I see the school number. Could be any number of reasons why they are calling. But today, I was in an multi hour meeting this morning and the guidance counselor called. My son was having a rough day and she wanted to discuss it. I told her I was in a meeting and I could not discuss this with her now. I told her if he was being disruptive I would leave work and come get him or I would call her back at the end of the day. She was put off by my unwillingness to discuss his behavior at the moment.

I cut her off after 10 min of listening to her. It took her that long to tell me that he was hiding under a table and wouldn't come out and that it started when he didn't want to participate in a drawing activity. What should I have said to her?

I would tell her to do her job as the guidance counselor and figure out what he is upset with and get him out from under the table. You dealt with it. If it is an emergency you will leave now and get him or call her back after your meeting is over. That sounds reasonable. What does her going on for 10 minutes think she is helping? Get under the table with him and talk to him. Or, ask him if he'd like to leave with her for a few minutes to talk about what is going on. Its drawing, really...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Justice Ginsburg said that if you tell the school to call the kid's father at work, they will suddenly call less often and only for true emergencies. She swore it worked like a charm! Give it a try!

Your response was good; hers was not.

LOL, mom my always had the school call dad and if there was an issue he'd get us usually as he had more flexibility. My husband cannot have his cell phone at work so good luck getting him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Justice Ginsburg said that if you tell the school to call the kid's father at work, they will suddenly call less often and only for true emergencies. She swore it worked like a charm! Give it a try!

Your response was good; hers was not.

Ha! I'm sure it works, sadly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always take the call when I see the school number. Could be any number of reasons why they are calling. But today, I was in an multi hour meeting this morning and the guidance counselor called. My son was having a rough day and she wanted to discuss it. I told her I was in a meeting and I could not discuss this with her now. I told her if he was being disruptive I would leave work and come get him or I would call her back at the end of the day. She was put off by my unwillingness to discuss his behavior at the moment.

I cut her off after 10 min of listening to her. It took her that long to tell me that he was hiding under a table and wouldn't come out and that it started when he didn't want to participate in a drawing activity. What should I have said to her?

I would tell her to do her job as the guidance counselor and figure out what he is upset with and get him out from under the table. You dealt with it. If it is an emergency you will leave now and get him or call her back after your meeting is over. That sounds reasonable. What does her going on for 10 minutes think she is helping? Get under the table with him and talk to him. Or, ask him if he'd like to leave with her for a few minutes to talk about what is going on. Its drawing, really...

Wow. I think the parent needs to do THEIR job as a parent. Child comes first. Work comes second. If you can't handle both, don't take on a job.

[Anonymous]

If the school clinic calls and advises you to come pick up your student, please do it. Please take the call. If you can't leave for a few hours (!) then tell the school that your emergency contact will be en route and then enact your prior arrangements. The clinic really doesn't want to have your vomiting, feverish kid in the clinic for HOURS or until a time convenient for you. Happens all the time. Also, don't become angry if you get a call saying your child is sick and needs to come home immediately. We have rules, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am usually in meetings where I don't have to be sly about checking my phone. So if I see it's the school I will say "Excuse me, it's my child's school, I have to take this and I will be right back." Luckily, no one cares and it's never been an issue. My kid's school doesn't call unless there is a real reason, so I am generally pretty alarmed if the phone says that it's school during the day and I wouldn't let it go.

Ugh, no. TMI. Just excuse yourself and say you have to tend to an urgent matter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always take the call when I see the school number. Could be any number of reasons why they are calling. But today, I was in an multi hour meeting this morning and the guidance counselor called. My son was having a rough day and she wanted to discuss it. I told her I was in a meeting and I could not discuss this with her now. I told her if he was being disruptive I would leave work and come get him or I would call her back at the end of the day. She was put off by my unwillingness to discuss his behavior at the moment.

I cut her off after 10 min of listening to her. It took her that long to tell me that he was hiding under a table and wouldn't come out and that it started when he didn't want to participate in a drawing activity. What should I have said to her?

I would tell her to do her job as the guidance counselor and figure out what he is upset with and get him out from under the table. You dealt with it. If it is an emergency you will leave now and get him or call her back after your meeting is over. That sounds reasonable. What does her going on for 10 minutes think she is helping? Get under the table with him and talk to him. Or, ask him if he'd like to leave with her for a few minutes to talk about what is going on. Its drawing, really...

Wow. I think the parent needs to do THEIR job as a parent. Child comes first. Work comes second. If you can't handle both, don't take on a job.

They did not call her to pick up her child. They called to complain about her child. Different issues. She could have had a 5 minute conversation and mom/dad call back as soon as they were available. Mom offered to pick up her child if he was that much of an issue. Normally I would say its on the parent and parenting, but OP handled it reasonably.

[Anonymous]

I am a SAHM now. If it was an important meeting, I probably would not have answered the phone. I would have excused myself or waited for the next break to check voicemail and call back. If it was an internal informal meeting, I would probably have picked up. If I was having a meeting with my boss, I would have checked voicemail after the meeting was over.

School calls both me and my husband. If I don't answer, hopefully DH did. If we both couldn't answer, one or both of us would have checked our voicemail and called back shortly.

Did you answer the phone in the middle of the meeting and listen for 10 minutes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nothing. If they can't draw a child out from under a table they shouldn't be in the education field.

My DD is 13 now but I reply when I can. They can hold her in the office, like they did a month or two ago when she got a migraine.

You don't think there is anything wrong with a child being under a table at school? I would be very concerned if my child did that.