Are you "that" parent?

[PatsGirl]

No, not me. I've had few occasions to step in and play advocate for DS when he was in school because of his lack of motivation but DD has handled things quite well to this point by herself. If anything, I lean towards the other side ~ no news is good news! I attended parent conferences through elementary school with both kids but now just let the teachers know that if they need to speak with me, I am available 24/7, if there are no problems on either end most likely we don't need to meet each quarter.

I did volunteer in both kids' kindergarten and first grade classes and for a few field trips here and there until they hit middle school and preferred I not volunteer

I detest helicopter parents and think they are doing their kids and society a huge disfavor. Roots and wings is my favorite saying...

 

[disneyjunkie]

I detest helicopter parents and think they are doing their kids and society a huge disfavor. Roots and wings is my favorite saying...

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

It depends.
If I have a concern I will absolutely e-mail the teachers. I work full time so I am not able to do any volunteering during school hours, but I always attend conferences, Open House, that sort of thing. If there is some major thing during the day I would take off work to be there.

I am a bit of a helicopter mom. My DS is an only child, so that's just how it is. He will be in high school in the Fall, so I will try to back off. Maybe. We'll see how it goes.

 

[Sgt Mickey]

Other. NO I am not that parent BUT I would question the school if the need came up.

 

[MushyMushy]

I sort of had "that" parent role thrust upon me. When you have a kid with behavioral disorders (ADHD, ODD, bipolar), it's kind of hard not to be HIGHLY involved in school affairs. School was absolutely miserable for my son. On top of his issues, he has a very notorious last name, which in a small town is as bad as a scarlet letter.

I'm just glad those days are done now that the oldest has graduated. Now I'm not so much "that" parent and I can be a whole lot less involved. That's not to say there are never issues that need my attention with my youngest, but at least I'm not conversing with the middle school several times a week.

 

[KimR]

No, but then again, we've been very fortunate in that my DDs have all had wonderful teachers (with a few exceptions), do well in school, and we've had few issues. I suppose in our situation it's easy to not be 'that parent'. Still, I'd like to think that if any issues were to come up, I'd handle it in a reasonable way.

I absolutely cannot stand those parents who think the world revolves around their child and everyone else should accomodate them. MY world revolves around my kids, but the rest of the world does not.

 

[NY Disney fan]

but for some reason the teachers seem afraid of me. I can pick up on their body language. The only thing I can think of is that I have a strong personality and I'm very direct...not in a complaining way, but a matter of fact kind of way.

Now that I think about it, other people are afraid of me too....

Anyway, poll coming....

Teachers should be able to handle THAT parent. If they can't then they need to switch jobs. I remember being a student for all those years, I couldn't stand the wimpy teacher. The teacher who started the class from the beginning when a student came in late. The teacher who was afraid of the class coward/bully. The teacher who never enforced her own rules. The world needs less teachers like that. Children get easily lost in the shuffle and parents need to advocate.

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

Another teacher checking in.

I was not that parent.






This is my 18th year teaching. After years of playground gossip,the same parents jocking to attend every party and trip, working moms feeling left out,
..., I finally refused to have a room mom. I wish I had done it years ago.

I didn't have a problem with no room mom, most teachers don't have one and that has never bothered me and there were years there was one and I didn't get picked, also no big deal. What I didn't appreciate was her implying I was pushy without even knowing me just for offering. I also didn't appreciate that some of the moms got to sign up for every party and I didn't get to go to a single one.

 

[jodifla]

I posted other. I'm "that parent" if I have to be. For example, I refused to let my child be mislabeled and put in a segregated class. He's now doing well in his mainstream 2nd grade class after a rough K and 1st grade experience.

But as far as the day to day goes, I lay back and just do what the teachers ask.

 

[Robinrs]

I'm not the one that makes them cringe, but the one who makes them take notice.

It was mentioned once in a meeting how they LOVE getting my correspondence because it's alway so NICE...

I couldn't imagine expecting anything from teachers and faculty unless there is mutual respect. No matter what the situation, I like to hear all sides of it and always want to be included in the loop of decision making.

I consider myself "involved" but not intrusional. My son is VERY shy and will let everyone decide for him if I'm not involved. He's had MANY issues in his 11 years of schooling and it's important that he knows that they and I am on his side.

 

[twinmomplus2new]

Kindergarten was a horrible year like a previous poster stated. it was the teachers first year and she was a horror show.
lied, lied lied about everything she said. my kids learned some rather inappropriate things that year. Like Shut your Pie hole.( she thought it was funny) I did not.
They repeated the N word from another child I emailed the teacher said it was to be taken care of ASAP. she said she would. A week later I get a call into the principals office. that my child had said the N word and where did he hear it. Ahhh well you see????
principal calls in teacher. Teachers Lies denies that any conversation ever took place. But by then october I was only communicating by email. So i had my emails and my responses.
which when I told the principal I had she requested on about April. I gave her every email documentation and every response from the teacher.
That teacher no longer works there. But I ended up working there have been there 3 years now. So I guess you can infer from that who was the issue.

It was a hard, hard year and I totally was THAT parent.

Now 2 years after that not one issue. room mother for both od my twins. ended up close friends with one sons teachers. this year not so much. Actually removed my kids from a class before school even started by call the superintendant. got new teachers. Love one the other really not much of an opinion.
Had a situation with my child at recess which I saw from my vantage point at my school and did call and report it. Normally I wouldn't call if my child told me because I know half is usually true. but this I watched myself. I am quite sure the monitor who was suppossed to be watching is angry but ahh well. watch them better!!!!
So in short I am both when I need to be . other times not so much!

 

[Pigeon]

Generally no, but when the school or teachers are being particularly idiotic, yes. If the school doesn't get a little push back when they do stupid things, how are those administrators to learn?

My job is to raise my children. When the schools are doing something damaging or counterproductive, I'm certainly not going to be quiet about it. One year we had a spectacularly bad teacher, and I was on the phone with the principal and the teacher from time to time. Two years have gone by without a peep on my part (other than to write supportive letters about the good teachers).

Next year, my kid's class is scheduled for the dreaded D.A.R.E. program, so I'll do my part to be a thorn in their side.

 

[Mermaid02]

I am that parent. I have a child with special needs and in this city they do as little as possible, as a way to save money. I feel badly for the kids who don't have "that" parent who are NOT getting the education they deserve. Our special ed director is a bully and if he can intimidate a parent into conceding to getting fewer services he's happy.

I am that parent- and proud of it.

 

[WeCantWait]

I am usually very laid back and HATE having to make waves. Sometimes it is just neccessary. I have had a problem with two teachers and an aide. Three seperate problems. One of the teachers and the aide were fired as a result so I would say my concerns were valid. The other teacher did something illegal (privacy related), while I did not persue it as far as I could have, I did make everybody aware that it was unacceptable and if it would have been my childs privacy that was compromised, it would have been taken further. I don't make waves unless I absolutely have to.

 

[Arielle22]

I am not that parent. We have been lucky that all the teachers have been very nice and the principal when they were in grammar school was a doll.

 

[krcit]

I checked other. I am very involved in the school and all the teachers know me but seem to like me I'm pretty low-key. However, I think it's alomst a learning curve, lol. I am a bit more outspoken with my 3rd than I would've been with my 1st. He also has a learning disability so I have to be a bit more pro-active b/c the school certainly won't push getting him help-it costs money I also have come to learn that teachers are human and are not always right, whereas when my oldest was first starting school I would accept the teachers word without question which I now know better to do. You are your childs best advocate but I choose my battles. For example my middle dd came home complaining that the lunch lady moved her seat, it's not fair, blah blah blah. Not a big deal, she will deal.

 

[zigzagzerr]

I struggle with this one sometimes. My DD14 started high school this year, and about 2 weeks into the school year, she got in trouble and got sent to the VP. Having heard all sides of the story, I truly believe my kid was just clueless and gullible, and got sucked into the situation. I still backed up the school, supported the fact that she got detention, and figured it was a lesson learned.

But I really wanted to tell the administrator that my kid didn't deserve what she got. Ultimately I did tell the VP what I thought really happened, but that I supported the punishment. Not sure if that makes me "that parent" or not.

Parenting is a darn tough job.

 

[Took]

Parenting is a darn tough job.

Amen, sister.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

There are a whole lot more of "those" parents on this board than have fessed up in this poll...

 

[cheermom1]

There are a whole lot more of "those" parents on this board than have fessed up in this poll...

yep