Anonymous
Post 09/05/2017 20:19     Subject: Is it bad form to bring your kids to back to school night?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
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.


I think it depends on the school. At our school, the aftercare team babysits while parents listen to presentations.


OP here, the school stated that childcare will not be provided that parents should get a babysitter.


So then what part of 'parents should get a babysitter' do you not understand?


But OP will not get a babysitter. Instead, OP will bring OP's children to back-to-school night. And OP will not be the only one to do this. And it will be fine.

When the school says, "Parents should get a babysitter", what they really mean is, "It's not actually all that important to us for parents to come to back-to-school night".
Anonymous
Post 09/05/2017 20:14     Subject: Re:Is it bad form to bring your kids to back to school night?
Happened to me a few years ago. My husband was out of town. I had no one to watch my kids. I hired a babysitter from a company and used her several times beforehand to get to know her and have the kids comfortable with her all for the 1.5 hours of back to school night. Never needed or used her again. Probably cost me 15 hours worth of sitting costs. If I can do that rather than bring my kids it irks me when people who can afford sitters being their kids. OP knew the answer before asking as the school said child care wasn't provided. It wasn't the answer she wanted...
Anonymous
Post 09/05/2017 18:35     Subject: Is it bad form to bring your kids to back to school night?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
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.


I think it depends on the school. At our school, the aftercare team babysits while parents listen to presentations.


OP here, the school stated that childcare will not be provided that parents should get a babysitter.


So then what part of 'parents should get a babysitter' do you not understand?
Anonymous
Post 09/05/2017 18:32     Subject: Re:Is it bad form to bring your kids to back to school night?
Anonymous wrote:There is absolutely no reason both parents need to go. One parent stays at home with the kids. The other goes to the school. It's pretty awful to bring your kids when the school has specifically asked that children not attend.


+1
I've paid for a babysitter only to not be able to hear the teacher because someone brought their loud kid along. One parent goes.
Anonymous
Post 09/05/2017 18:12     Subject: Re:Is it bad form to bring your kids to back to school night?
Title One school. Almost all of the parents bring their kids or they wouldn't come. Yes, it is sometimes distracting but I guess it's better than nobody coming. Most teachers pull out paper/markers/crayons, puzzles, blocks, etc.
Anonymous
Post 09/05/2017 18:06     Subject: Is it bad form to bring your kids to back to school night?
Anonymous wrote:Yes. The school specifically says not to bring kids but I am always surprised by how many people who do.


+1. You don't need to both go. Go to one teacher, ask for handouts/info and tell them you can stay for part but then need to scoot over to the other teacher. Don't be that family. Especially if you are new.
Anonymous
Post 09/05/2017 17:59     Subject: Re:Is it bad form to bring your kids to back to school night?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think it's absurd that people expect OP to get a sitter even though she just moved here and doesn't trust anyone yet. Two friends recently had near misses with tragedy when they tried new babysitters (despite asking all the "right" questions). One sitter wasn't paying attention and the baby girl got out of the house and into the street and almost got hit by a car. Another was caught on a nanny cam leaving a preschooler home alone for an hour.

I am A LOT more sympathetic to people being paranoid about who they trust with their kids after hearing about these incidents. OP, bring your kids with no guilt if it's your only option.

Did you even read the post? Totally irrelevant what you mentioned about baby and preschooler. OPs kids are in elementary school.


Yes, I read the post. The point is not the ages of the children or the details of the incidents, but that it's very difficult to ensure that a stranger will provide safe and appropriate care for your children. OP is brand new to town and doesn't feel she can trust anyone yet- I'm saying that's perfectly rational.
Anonymous
Post 09/05/2017 17:54     Subject: Re:Is it bad form to bring your kids to back to school night?
Anonymous wrote:I think it's absurd that people expect OP to get a sitter even though she just moved here and doesn't trust anyone yet. Two friends recently had near misses with tragedy when they tried new babysitters (despite asking all the "right" questions). One sitter wasn't paying attention and the baby girl got out of the house and into the street and almost got hit by a car. Another was caught on a nanny cam leaving a preschooler home alone for an hour.

I am A LOT more sympathetic to people being paranoid about who they trust with their kids after hearing about these incidents. OP, bring your kids with no guilt if it's your only option.

Did you even read the post? Totally irrelevant what you mentioned about baby and preschooler. OPs kids are in elementary school.
Anonymous
Post 09/05/2017 16:47     Subject: Re:Is it bad form to bring your kids to back to school night?
I think it's absurd that people expect OP to get a sitter even though she just moved here and doesn't trust anyone yet. Two friends recently had near misses with tragedy when they tried new babysitters (despite asking all the "right" questions). One sitter wasn't paying attention and the baby girl got out of the house and into the street and almost got hit by a car. Another was caught on a nanny cam leaving a preschooler home alone for an hour.

I am A LOT more sympathetic to people being paranoid about who they trust with their kids after hearing about these incidents. OP, bring your kids with no guilt if it's your only option.
Anonymous
Post 09/05/2017 16:38     Subject: Is it bad form to bring your kids to back to school night?
Anonymous wrote:Come on, y'all. This is a problem that is easily solved by being a decent member of your school community.

If you have two parents available, send one.

If you have one parent available but can afford a sitter, get a sitter.

If you have to bring your child, that's fine because those who don't have to bring their kids left them home/with a sitter.


There is nothing that says this person has to bring her child. She doesn't have to.
Anonymous
Post 09/05/2017 16:06     Subject: Is it bad form to bring your kids to back to school night?
Come on, y'all. This is a problem that is easily solved by being a decent member of your school community.

If you have two parents available, send one.

If you have one parent available but can afford a sitter, get a sitter.

If you have to bring your child, that's fine because those who don't have to bring their kids left them home/with a sitter.
Anonymous
Post 09/05/2017 16:04     Subject: Is it bad form to bring your kids to back to school night?
Anonymous wrote:Don't bring them. Get a babysitter or send one parent. One parent can cover multiple classrooms, others do that every year.


This is us. Tap out.
Anonymous
Post 09/05/2017 15:53     Subject: Is it bad form to bring your kids to back to school night?
Anonymous wrote:
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.


You're an ass. She wants to go. She wants to see the notes the kids write to their parents in the classroom. She wants to see and meet other parents. She should go bring her kids and everyone else should get the f*ck over it.


No. It is inappropriate to bring the kids. Most schools do two sessions. OP, have you called to ask about this yet? If they do two sessions, kids stay home with DH and you get to go to both classrooms. Parents will roll their eyes and talk behind your back if you bring your kids. Everyone else paid for sitters, it's not fair for you to bring your kids to an event that is specifically for parents only.
Anonymous
Post 09/05/2017 15:24     Subject: Is it bad form to bring your kids to back to school night?
OP, just take them. One kid goes with you, other kid goes with your partner. NBD. The people on here pouting over rules are ridiculous.
Anonymous
Post 09/05/2017 15:21     Subject: Re:Is it bad form to bring your kids to back to school night?
There is absolutely no reason both parents need to go. One parent stays at home with the kids. The other goes to the school. It's pretty awful to bring your kids when the school has specifically asked that children not attend.