Wow!!
I go away from the computer for one day and this thread REALLY took off!!!
So many people responded that I'd like to quote some of my favorites but there are just too many....
First, to the poster who wondered about my appointment time: My appointment was at 8:45 a.m. It normally takes about 30 minutes to get there but considering it was rush hour, I allowed myself one hour to get there. It took me 45 minutes, so I had 15 minutes to spare. The doctor took me right at 8:45 and they performed the standard breathing tests and pulse oxygen tests. We were finished at 9:20. It took me until 9:50 to get to the school. I parked the car and walked into the bulding and signed in at about 9:59. That's when I saw the 3 names above me. Now the sign up sheet is done on this 11 x 14 "board". It is kind of hard NOT to see the other responses. But I will say, usually when we return from the asthma doctor at 10:00 a.m. there are FAR more entries (maybe like 10-20) so this was a GOOD day. And yes, this isn't the first time I've seen the "oversleeping" comments.
I think I did state in my OP that I was pretty uptight about lateness. I do find it is something that parents need to teach their children. I think it's important. Do I think someone is a "bad" parent for being late. Heck no. Do I think it lacks discipline and is irresponsble--yes. It takes discipline to be on time and it is a responsiblitity to show up on time for school and work. If you can't do that than you lack discipline and are irresponsible in that area. If it doesn't matter to you--cool. As an employer, let me tell you, it matters and people have lost their jobs here. I swear, these people have never been taught.
Of course, I realize there are special circumstances for being late and OF COURSE I am very understanding of that. I also know that I cannot possible know about these 3 situations. If there are things going on, so be it. But I agree with what one poster said, if that is the case the school is aware of it then the kids/parents would not be writing out lame excuses.
And regarding my children having to be out of the house at 5:50 a.m. Yep, they hate it, I hate it, but that's what we HAVE to do and we do it. I'm a working parent--judge me all you want, you won't be the first and you won't be the last.
When I wrote the OP, I did put on my flame-retardent suit--I kind of knew it was going to be a battle between the the late people and the on-time people. I think I hit a nerve with some of the late people!! And sure, I guess I was judging those parents. No one specifically, but that is what I read and that is EXACTLY how it hit me. Now, it didn't hit me that way out of the blue. My impression was formed out of numerous experiences that have happened over the past few weeks. My DD goes to a private school that starts at 8:00 a.m. (not the same school as DS). We parents were just "spoken" to a few weeks ago about supporting the school administration with school rules and discipline. The principal said that tardiness was getting out of hand. They said that they didn't have a problem with the the 10-12 tardies per semester
but there were some that had as many as 46!!!!!! And it was stated that these tardies were due to "oversleeping". They urged the parents to "please make a better effort." Come on--46 tardies?? And this was not an isolated case--apparently there are several cases like this. One of these cases is my DD's good friend. I happen to think her parents are good parents, yet they really CANNOT get their daughter to school on time. And they always take up for her whenever she does something wrong and are siding with their DD rather than the school. Then, on an unrelated subject, a child in my DD's class was removed from the National Junior Honor Society because he was caught cheating. The parent of this child called the teacher and screamed at her for picking on his child and "ruining" his child's chances for college. So, I guess seeing those "late" sign ups was the end to a culmination of weird parenting issues.
I do stand by my original question: I still can't figure out why it is so hard to make it to school by 9:30 a.m. There are no transfer students to this particular school--I know this--and so all kids either have bus service in the very small surrounding area or they are close enough to walk. I am more understanding of the high schoolers who have to drive and be there at 7:30 a.m. There is still a lot of traffic at that time and they travel greater distances to get to school--hey I'm not totally anal!
And yes, I'm one of those painfully punctual people. I think the last time I was late for work due to my negligence was when I was 18 and had been out all night. My alarm has malfunctioned before but never to the point that I cannot recover and make it in. I'm usually very early wherever I go. I guess I have an "inner clock." No, I don't feel superior (I'm waiting for someone to congratulate me for being "perfect"). I just I can't understand the mindset of running late all the time. Especially for school. I guess I find some things sacred--being punctual for school or work and I thought everyone felt that way too. Obviously not.
