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Kate Hawkesby: Since when did Term 4 of schools become so stressful for parents?

Author
Kate Hawkesby,
Publish Date
Wed, 2 Dec 2020, 3:49PM
(Photo / Getty)
(Photo / Getty)

Kate Hawkesby: Since when did Term 4 of schools become so stressful for parents?

Author
Kate Hawkesby,
Publish Date
Wed, 2 Dec 2020, 3:49PM

I have no idea why at this time of year, schools take it upon themselves to make life extra hectic for families.

I mean, have we not got enough to contend with? Christmas, end of year wind ups and commitments, work functions, and the sheer fact that everyone is exhausted.

But then you have to add an additional layer to all of this if you have school age children, and that is the world of the school function.

The end of term four brings with it a slew of events aimed at monopolizing parents time. From the lengthy prizegivings to the end of year mass or carol service, to the assemblies, to the concerts, to the sports days to the shared lunches, to the Xmas charity drives, and don’t get me started on the heat of exams. It’s a lot.

Add to that the extracurricular activities; if your kid does any kind of sport you can add an unlimited number of hours and functions to the list.

I saw a meme of an end of term to do list the other day. It was frighteningly accurate, and applicable to most parents of school children these days.

 ‘Go to Xmas concert, go to Xmas play, go to Xmas fair, Decide to live at school as that’s easier, buy mince pies for festive events, buy teachers gifts, wrap teachers gifts, buy all the things, sponsor all the things, get cash and coins for child to take to school donations, make sure to sing ‘what a wonderful time of the year’. Organise school Xmas hamper, and don’t forget PTA Xmas raffle.’

It also mentioned drinking gin, which isn’t surprising. As funny as it was intended to be, it’s also scarily true.

Why? When did having a child at school get so damn busy and high maintenance?

I don’t recall when I was at school, my parents ever getting into a frenzy over end of year activities because I don’t think there were any. It was one prize giving and that was it.

And it wasn’t compulsory attendance either. If I wasn’t getting a prize, you can bet your bottom dollar my parents weren’t attending. Whereas these days parents are not only expected to turn up at everything, they dutifully do.

Why? When did we become so soft? So bullied by school timetables which now extend way beyond the classroom and the school gate.

So on behalf of all the exhausted working parents of all school children at this manic time of year, can I just say: let’s take the pressure off. Do we really have to be at everything? Do we have to turn ourselves inside out in Xmas traffic to find a park outside school to watch another nativity scene?

From one working parent to any others out there feeling the heat of the season, let’s try to take this in our stride, get to what we can get to, and not sweat the rest.

Easier said than done, but you can bet I’ll be trying.

 

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