Parents - Argh!!!

[zoom-zoom]

As far as field trip notices, the trip has probably been publicized in newsletters and web sites for awhile.

Nope, every time we've gotten a notice this year it has come with an apology..."sorry for the short notice." I've almost stopped reading the newsletter, since there's never anything new in there (and the school website is never updated). All the important stuff comes home in DS's backpack or in specific e-mails from his teacher. I really like his teacher and the school, but compared to his previous über type-A teacher I always feel like we're not getting any advanced notice for most of what they're doing in the classroom or class events. A friend of mine pulled her DD from the school, since they are cash-strapped and they couldn't deal with never having enough notice to pay for things. We love the Montessori instruction, but the school has never been good about communication in the 5 years that our son has attended.

[Savra]

Ok, I will admit to being one those parents who just can't remember when things happen. My niece (who I'm taking care of) has suggested a big calendar to put in the kitchen but I have poo pooed it like an idiot. I don't know why I can't remember - except that I do have a lot of things on my mind. I will just take this moment to apologize for all distracted parents everywhere. I sympathize with your plight.

[Crankin]

Zoom, this is a private Montessori school? My experience has been that at private schools, things are not done in such an institutionalized routine. Like, where I used to teach, my team web site and newsletter had to be done by a certain date, or you were dead. I also sent my own weekly Lang Arts thing home. My school had "Red Folder" day, when all notices, trip reminders, etc were sent home. There was no excuse; the whole town knew Thursday was the day.

[zoom-zoom]

Zoom, this is a private Montessori school?

Not private, public charter. And they're actually better with communication now than they were a few years ago. The director got the boot a few years back, after he nearly ran the school into the ground, financially (they're still digging out of that hole). Then there was a year with a temporary director. The current director is in her 2nd year and things have been improving.

[limewave]

I am that parent.

But I try hard. I swear. I have never been good at following instructions. I'll read something 3, 4 times and miss the most obvious point. I don't know what's wrong with me. I have my own assistant at who, poor thing, has to double-check everything I do. I make an effort, I truly do. I know I look stupid a lot of times, I feel stupid a lot of times. Wish I could blame it on something like dyslexia but I think it's just my scatterbrain.

[limewave]

Ok, I will admit to being one those parents who just can't remember when things happen. My niece (who I'm taking care of) has suggested a big calendar to put in the kitchen but I have poo pooed it like an idiot. I don't know why I can't remember - except that I do have a lot of things on my mind. I will just take this moment to apologize for all distracted parents everywhere. I sympathize with your plight.

My mom bought me a big calendar for our kitchen in her attempt to keep my organized. It has kind of helped. But I have to remember to write stuff on it. And in order to know to write stuff on it, I need to remember to go through DD's bag every night . . .