I choose not to work. I do understand that people don't have a choice and have to work outside of the home for a pay check to buy food and shelter. One parent in my house must work. I also feel some don't really have to work and choose to work for luxury items. I have talked to people that say there is no way they could be a stay at home parent and choose to go to work.
Why do we as parents belittle each other in our choices. Recently on Facebook (some say a necessary evil, but I think it is just evil) A parent commented "...for the parent that actually works". Wow, only one word makes that sentence sting. I try not to let these words on Facebook hurt me or give them a second thought but I am a wordy person and I think about words. The sentence takes a different tone if it was written, "for the parent that works". The word "actually" implies negative things to those that don't work.
For the parent that works I understand that a 30 minute delay in school start time is a burden. I am not going to apologize because I can get my kid to school at 7:30 AM, 8:30 AM or even 10 AM if the school system chooses to change the daily schedule. This is one reason why I choose to stay home. It might actually behoove you to make nicey-nice with a nonworking parent and not trample them with your word. Just one word, that is all it took for me not to like you. One word.
Honestly 99% of the parents that don't work would have picked up your kid for school if you would have just been nice and asked for help. Probably 50% or more of the working parents that have flexible schedules would have helped you too.
For the working parent that feels this way about the ones that don't, have you ever stopped to think that while you are "actually working" some of the parents that don't are filling the gap during the day at your kids school? When your little Johnny goes to the school library, who is there helping them check out a book? When the band goes on a bus ride and they need an adult to ride the bus, guess who is sitting on the hot bus? When the class is going on a field trip and needs a chaperone, just who is there again to fill the need? Overnight trip that needs parents, guess who can go herd cats for the three nights? When you call the school and a parent answers the phone, guess who? These parents that don't "actually work" work very hard for free and are really helping you work for a pay check.
Before the parent that works and volunteers comments, just hold your horses. I know there are parents that work a paying job that run circles around me in the way of volunteering. I want to know, do these parents sleep? Super stars in my opinion. More power to you. I am not going to feel bad because I don't do more.
One word can hurt. I'm not saying that changes in your schedule are not important or aren't stressful. I'm just sitting here thinking about how one word can hurt and to remind everyone to choose your words wisely. It takes a village, stop running around with a torch.
Why do we as parents belittle each other in our choices. Recently on Facebook (some say a necessary evil, but I think it is just evil) A parent commented "...for the parent that actually works". Wow, only one word makes that sentence sting. I try not to let these words on Facebook hurt me or give them a second thought but I am a wordy person and I think about words. The sentence takes a different tone if it was written, "for the parent that works". The word "actually" implies negative things to those that don't work.
For the parent that works I understand that a 30 minute delay in school start time is a burden. I am not going to apologize because I can get my kid to school at 7:30 AM, 8:30 AM or even 10 AM if the school system chooses to change the daily schedule. This is one reason why I choose to stay home. It might actually behoove you to make nicey-nice with a nonworking parent and not trample them with your word. Just one word, that is all it took for me not to like you. One word.
Honestly 99% of the parents that don't work would have picked up your kid for school if you would have just been nice and asked for help. Probably 50% or more of the working parents that have flexible schedules would have helped you too.
For the working parent that feels this way about the ones that don't, have you ever stopped to think that while you are "actually working" some of the parents that don't are filling the gap during the day at your kids school? When your little Johnny goes to the school library, who is there helping them check out a book? When the band goes on a bus ride and they need an adult to ride the bus, guess who is sitting on the hot bus? When the class is going on a field trip and needs a chaperone, just who is there again to fill the need? Overnight trip that needs parents, guess who can go herd cats for the three nights? When you call the school and a parent answers the phone, guess who? These parents that don't "actually work" work very hard for free and are really helping you work for a pay check.
Before the parent that works and volunteers comments, just hold your horses. I know there are parents that work a paying job that run circles around me in the way of volunteering. I want to know, do these parents sleep? Super stars in my opinion. More power to you. I am not going to feel bad because I don't do more.
One word can hurt. I'm not saying that changes in your schedule are not important or aren't stressful. I'm just sitting here thinking about how one word can hurt and to remind everyone to choose your words wisely. It takes a village, stop running around with a torch.
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