OP I am not trying to be weird or judgmental in my comment, just up front.

But I think you're kind of setting the stage in these early days on what kind of parent you'll be. Will you be the choosing work over moments parent or the choosing moments over work parent. The more you do one or the other the more that trend will continue.

OF COURSE there is a middle ground and I'm not saying your career isn't important at all. But you know, at the end of the day do you want to be the person who tried and did whatever they could to be there for as many moments as possible or the person who was always at work.

The last day of a multi-day conference? What are you really giving up? You'll certainly be able to schmooze again. But you'll never get first day of K back, and your kid will never get you being their on their first day of k back.

I know for me, my kids would have cared. So I wouldn't have missed it.

I think this depends on your overall relationship with your child though. I personally am a believer that showing up for kids day in and day out, for big moments and small, is what forms a relationship. And if you're doing that and you miss a few things, then it's no big deal. But if you're missing a lot of those moments, it will change your relationship with the child.

If you left your company tomorrow they would give you a parting gift, say goodbye and clear our your office. They might miss you for a couple of weeks, but after a while they will eventually forget about you and refer to you as "You know, whats her name who always got Starbucks on Friday."

When you leave these networking events, how many of these people.do you actually remember? Build a relationship with? How many actually remember you?

What about you child?

Anonymous wrote:It's kindergarten - whatever. You don't need to be there - make someone else take a first day pic.

Meh, it's just my kid. Who cares?!

You have to ask if networking is more important than the first day of kindergarten?

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't miss the first day of K. You will never get that moment back again. Ever. You will, however, have business trips on the horizon again.

+1 So very true!!

With the passage of time, none of these events are very important in the big scheme of things. You should try your best to be at your child's birth, high school and college graduations, and wedding. Everything else is just a blur.

Having said that, no work event is very important in the big scheme of things either.

First day of school is no big deal. Your kid won't remember that you weren't there.

I guarantee your kid does not care. Especially if it's in the same building. You think it's important because everyone else say it is and you think it should. Just have someone else take a picture and post in Facebook so everyone thinks you did it. That's what you really care about.

Anonymous wrote:I would not miss the first day.

My husband would miss it in a heartbeat, without even thinking about it.

Follow your heart, OP!

+1 same here. I wouldn't think of missing it. But do what you feel. Everyone is different.

I would not miss the first day.

My husband would miss it in a heartbeat, without even thinking about it.

Follow your heart, OP!

My son is in 2nd grade now. I don't think he would have been upset if I missed his first day of K as long as DH was there (or my mom), but I think I would have regretted not seeing it, FWIW.

If your kid is going to a different school, then yes, I would find a way to be there. If not, it's less of a big transition so I don't think it's detrimental.

For me personally, I would skip the networking or take a red eye if possible. I know that I am not going to think about that event a wink when I am on my death bed but I will think about my children's firsts.

If the day before K is the last day of a multi-day conference, odds are it will be a dud. In my experience people usually skip the last few sessions so that they can get home. If you'd end up having to stay overnight when the conference is over, I'd instead do what you could to get home.

If it's the same physical location, I say don't worry about it. My DD will be starting K in the fall and she's never been to this school, so it's a big deal. I already told work I can't travel that week.