When my daughter took a teaching job three years ago, she realized that she could neither take her kids to school on the first day nor be there in the afternoon. That took some getting used to! Her husband took the morning duty, and I was lucky enough to be there, camera in hand, when they got off the bus in the afternoon.
Lots of grandparents do pick-up or drop-off duty, or serve as emergency contacts for sick kids. We can support our school-age grandchildren in even more important ways:
- Have a positive attitude about school, teachers and assignments.
- Supervise homework or help with projects.
- Read, read, read with younger kids, and discuss books with older kids.
- Show up for Grandparents Day programs, book fairs, plays and performances when possible.
- Provide a sounding board for kids to talk about social problems, which can interfere with school success.
Long-distance grandparents obviously have a tougher assignment, but they can do most of these things via phone, computer or Skype. If you are unable to help your grandchildren as much as you would like, consider volunteering at a school or serving as a Foster Grandparent. Your ability to help grandchildren doesn't stop with your own.
This post is part of the August About Parenting Blog Carnival, hosted this month by our Guide to Children's Books, Elizabeth Kennedy.
I am almost jealous of my daughter’s ability to attend the functions that go on in the school day or night. Her job is so very flexible it allows her to take a few minutes here and there.
I, like your daughter, was a teacher. I missed so much of my son’s and daughter’s extra-school things. If they were in school – so was I. I did go to work earlier, but I got out earlier. We were in the same district, so that helped.
I see my daughter making friends and connections here. She even has reconnected with high school people. It seems they leave for school, etc., but end up back here.
Now that I can help out, she doesn’t need me most of the time.
I agree that flexible work schedules are a boon to mothers. Many of today’s working mothers have that going for them. On the other hand, they have to cope with heightened demands and the difficulty of ever getting away completely from work. Almost everyone I know does some work from home and even on vacation.
I’m Susan’s daughter, and the photo she took of my kids getting off the bus was priceless. It helped me feel like I was there, even though I was not. That was great, especially since it was my youngest son’s first day of kindergarten. I printed that photo out as an 8×10, and it still hangs on my bulletin board in my classroom. Thanks, Mom!
I teach school so I’m often not available to go to my grandchildren’s special things at school. I try to call them in the evening of the day the special activity happened and ask them to tell me about it before they forget.