Just a rant...

So, I know I'm new to this 'parent of a school-ager' thing and all, but really - shouldn't notes requesting events or participation of parents come more than the night before?
I don't often get on my "working mom" soapbox - but I just can't help but feel that those on the PTO committee don't really represent my work/mommy/life balance very well.

The most notice we have ever received for one of these PTO events (fundraising night at fast food restaurants, book fairs, Breakfast with Grandparents day, etc...) has been 2 days.
Now I'm lucky. In my job I can arrange to take a half day, or a day off, or leave early, or work from home with just 2 days notice pretty easily most times. But I couldn't have at my old job, my husband certainly can't, and I know a LOT of moms and dads that don't have that flexible a work environment.

Still - it is not the PTO's job to ensure I personally can make all these events, and I know they are generously giving their time to serve on this much needed committee!

(Okay, MUCH needed might be a bit more than reality ... but I'm probably just ignorant to all that they do for the school and my poor child without an involved mother).

However, this one just took the cake.
Yesterday I worked from home because Matt was away on business. I got up at 5am (30 minutes earlier than normal), so I could shower, pack lunches, prep a crock-pot dish for dinner, and get my early morning data deliveries done for work before the kids got up.

Then I did the usual getting them cleaned, dressed, fed, breathing treatments, shoes, and dropped each of them at their schools.

Then I remembered I forgot to send Glue Sticks with Shaun that his class is in desperate need of (because the 12 glue sticks and 4 bottles that each child started the year with in supplies is already gone - yes that is 312 glue sticks and 104 bottles of glue they used in 6 months)! So, I stopped at CVS and returned to Shaun's school and slid them in the backpack.

So, finally - returning home I worked all day, then picked the kids up from school, rushed home, fed them, did a quick homework sheet with Shaun before Papa Jerry would come to take him to football practice (thanks for helping out Dad!). And...what do I find in Shaun's backpack...

A flyer for "Moments with Mom"! Cool, oh wait, does that say Wed. Dec 10th! Like TOMORROW!?

It is now 5:30pm, and while I will be back on the PC working once the kids are put to bed, my boss is certainly not around anymore to ask him if I can come in 2 hours late to work the next day so I can have mini donuts and orange wedges with Shaun the next morning.

Working Mom or not, I can't imagine it is easy for ANYONE to change their morning schedule for such an event when only getting the flyer for it the night before! Ugh!

As it was - I texted my husband as he sat in the San Fran airport and had him ensure he didn't have an late meetings the next afternoon, and then arranged with my boss to come in late, and work late and YES, I made it to Moments with Mom this morning. Shaun was thrilled (at least until it was time for me to leave and he got upset I wasn't staying all day).

Truthfuly, I have a hard time thinking he'll really remember this as an extra special memory, but I can't help but think if I didn't go, he would remember that I wasn't there for him on these special days. And I guess that is what it is really about...what makes it all worth it in the end...So that he will know as he ventures through life that his mom will be there for him no matter what, be they big or small things.

Now - how do I explain to him that I will not be there volunteering in his classroom on Friday for the Valentine's Day party!?