8 pm is kind of late, but I hate the ones starting at 5:30 or 6:00 pm. People either don’t have time to get home from work or are driving kids places.

Most of my later-evening meetings are on Zoom, which is helpful. I don't mind an 8:00 start if the meeting ends at 9- an earlier meeting might get in the way of a practice.

I say no OP. I’m solo parenting in the evenings so don’t attend any evening meetings at all.
Because my work schedule allows it I can volunteer during the day though, so have done teacher snack carts, served pizza, helped at the fun run etc, instead.
A sign up genius goes out after meetings for upcoming events.

That's 5 pm on the left coast.

Anonymous wrote:I get up at 4.45am to do sport training. So no go on 8pm meetings.

I have insomnia and wake up even earlier. I am seldom awake at 9pm.

I run a not for profit board and I’ve desperately tried to move meetings earlier and am met with resistance and inability to join the board due to needing to be home to put kids to bed. The board meets once a month, roughly 7-9 times a year. I have kids. Unless you don’t have a partner around (in which case, you’d already need a sitter to serve on the board anyway) I am utterly baffled by not being able to depend on your partner 7-9 times a year to handle bedtime alone. I hate starting the meetings late in the evening cause then it’s very late by the time I get home and I feel like I have not been able to unwind from the day at all.

I wouldn't go. MAYBE in the summer when it's still light at 8 but probably not even then because I'd be too late getting home.

Anonymous wrote:I’ll dissent. I much prefer that my social engagements start at 8 or later so I can do dinner and most of the bedtime routine with my kids, then go out. I do have younger kids though, so maybe that’s a difference that they’re down earlier?

Why can’t your spouse do those solo?

Anonymous wrote:Ahahaha. Same. Remember college when unless there was a game you didn’t really go out until 10pm? I go to bed when my youngest does- 8pm unless I absolutely have to be out or special occasions/break

In college the day starts at 10pm. Body clock is interesting isn't it.

Anonymous wrote:I’ll dissent. I much prefer that my social engagements start at 8 or later so I can do dinner and most of the bedtime routine with my kids, then go out. I do have younger kids though, so maybe that’s a difference that they’re down earlier?

Do you have to go to work the next day?

I hate late weeknight meetings, too. Especially in winter! I think it’s a problem so try to go at least some of the time.

Anonymous wrote:What kind of event are we talking?

+2

Cam u give examples? Is this a 1x/month bookclub? Or a weekly PTA Officer Mtg? Driving your kid to/from sports practice?

Anonymous wrote:Can I just say no to these? I log off work at 6ish and just want to make dinner and veg for the rest of the night, wake up refreshed for work the next day. But many of my outside non work activities seem to start at 8 or later. The volunteer meeting, etc.

I know, I’m old.

I don’t go.

Anonymous wrote:I’ll dissent. I much prefer that my social engagements start at 8 or later so I can do dinner and most of the bedtime routine with my kids, then go out. I do have younger kids though, so maybe that’s a difference that they’re down earlier?

+1

I've been involved with several weeknight standing social activities that start at 8:30. School pickup, dinner, bedtime, all unaffected. It's my preference.

That being said - it's fine if you say that's not for you, these aren't work related. Just as I would say no to a standing 6pm Tuesday activity.

I get up at 4.45am to do sport training. So no go on 8pm meetings.