Don't be "that" parent!

[Mkrop]

As you said that is definitely dependent on area. Where I live, there is no way the kids could get to the high school without rides, it just isn't possible.

There is always a way--carpools with other team members being one of them. Around here they encourage the carpools and if you can't find a ride the coaches/teachers/directors will help you. Now, we live in an area where the majority of the kids COULD walk if they needed to but walking while transporting a tuba isn't always an option. We have never had a problem with our kids finding a ride if we couldn't take them somewhere. As for the money, all the kid needs to do is show need. Talk to the coach, the school will waive the fee.

It really comes down to 2 things, the HIGH SCHOOL kid should have spent 4 minutes filling out the form and then 20 seconds asking her mom to sign the form and mom should have spend 2 minutes calling the coach and telling her that she couldn't make the meeting and what did she need to do--plain an simple.

Well I guess it is the type of school you went to. My HS experience was a school where everyone was bussed in from all over, it was not the local school and it was very difficult to get rides home bc it was certainly possible not to have anyone from your town or your direction to be involved in said activity. I was that household (although it was not sports) I had a difficult time joinng any activities until I got my license and a beat up old car bc 1) mom didnt drive, 2) dad worked and travelled a lot and 3)there was no real public transportation back home. And believe I took my shoer of public buses when I started to work but there was not one on the route from school to home.

My DSs will most likely go to a school similar, so I will have to figure things out when they get there but I will make it work. I was just talking to friends of mine who's DD play Varisty soccer for the HS, she made Varisty as a freshman, she is now a sophomore, and the parents are psyched that someone she knows from our area made the team, so the parents are carpooling and figuring out schedules for the two a days.

 

[bluesaturn]

There is always a way--carpools with other team members being one of them. Around here they encourage the carpools and if you can't find a ride the coaches/teachers/directors will help you. Now, we live in an area where the majority of the kids COULD walk if they needed to but walking while transporting a tuba isn't always an option. We have never had a problem with our kids finding a ride if we couldn't take them somewhere. As for the money, all the kid needs to do is show need. Talk to the coach, the school will waive the fee.

It really comes down to 2 things, the HIGH SCHOOL kid should have spent 4 minutes filling out the form and then 20 seconds asking her mom to sign the form and mom should have spend 2 minutes calling the coach and telling her that she couldn't make the meeting and what did she need to do--plain an simple.

As someone else said, carpool is not always possible if you have no one in your area willing to drive you. And even carpool requires each parent to drive sometimes, so if the parent is never able to drive I can't imagine anyone wanting to carpool with that family.

I do agree with your last paragraph, both the parent and the kid should take responsibility and fulfill the requirements.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

Well, we call what DD#2 is in a "carpool"---two moms pick up, one 3x a week, and one 2x a week, from the junior high. I can't ever do it because I don't get home early enough (one of the moms works 3x a week and one is a SAHM). I'm glad they don't make DD take the bus (they are our neighbors) just because I have a job! They know if it is after 3:30 I am always available to pick up.
Robin M.

 

[Cindy B]

Unfortunately, not every parent has one child. So often there are conflicts. For example tonite I have a parent meeting at the high school for one child and also a meeting at the preschool for another. I am going to the high school meeting- that doesn't mean I am not interested in what goes on with that child or that school- just that right now the other meeting is my priority.

I can understand the frustration of a coach- and the requirements she has for her team. But please understand that each miss by a parent isn't a direct insult to your daughter. People have lives and sometimes things don't go as smoothly as someone else wants.

I will second this.

Also some parents have conflicting work schedules and can't be there at night. For example, my DH works 3-12 hour days and can't be there to attend meetings, etc.

I also go to a university an hour away. I have conflicts occasionally with aftercare and my university meetings. Fortunately, I've been either able to bring my kids to the short meeting and/or reschedule the school thing.