OT- A question for teachers and moms.

[badblackpug]

As a teacher and a parent I find it fine. First day of K does not happen every year! Take the day..drop her off, go home and cry (LOL) and be back to great her with open arms. If she is the AM then plan to take her to lunch after her first day if it is pm then take her for an ice cream. Celebrate and relax (meaning don't worry about school that day).
Congrats on having a kindy student. The time flies!

I am not a teacher, but I was going to say the same thing, including the ice cream!

If the kids you teach are young K or 1st, you can prepare them for your absence.

Your kids are only little once, enjoy it!

 

[averysmom]

I think a day off a week and a half in is fine. If it was the first day of school for you AND your dd, then I would think you'd need to go to school.

 

[shaunaday]

As a teacher and a mom, I often have this inner battle. Sometimes my family responsibilities win and sometimes my job responibilities win. And no matter which I pick, I always have guilt that I am falling down on my "other responsibilities".

Having said that, I think you should do what you feel is a priority and from the outside looking in, I would say that taking your child to kindergarten wins out on this one. Besides, it isn't the first day of school for your students and, really, they should be fine.

 

[nessz79]

As a teacher and a mom, I often have this inner battle. Sometimes my family responsibilities win and sometimes my job responibilities win. And no matter which I pick, I always have guilt that I am falling down on my "other responsibilities".

Having said that, I think you should do what you feel is a priority and from the outside looking in, I would say that taking your child to kindergarten wins out on this one. Besides, it isn't the first day of school for your students and, really, they should be fine.

I agree.

I WISH I could be there for my son's first day of Kindergarten. Unfortunately, it's the first day for students at the high school I teach at. It just won't happen. He's going to a before and after school program (basically for 30 minutes before school and 30 minutes after school) and we'll be starting the year with that routine. I will drop him off at his before school program and hope and pray he'll be fine! I know he will, but I wish I could be there for him more that day.

However, I think your situation is totally fine. It's not your first day with students, or I think that would be a difficult situation.

 

[Perditamarie]

The time does fly by fast!! I just wanted to say that the first day of Kindergarten was a bigger deal for me than for my kids!!! However, Kindergarten graduation was very,very important to them. Whatever you decide, make sure you will have time at the end of the year for that!!

 

[Teacher03]

As a mom who is sending my youngest to college is less than two weeks, I say do it, and don't feel guilty about it. I wish I could go back in time and have those special moments again with all my children. Your class will be fine.
(I'm also a teacher, and that is what personal days are for!)

 

[JVL1018]

My DD's first grade teacher had her daughter starting K the first day of school-same as ours.
She didn;t take a personal day the first day, but she did come in an hour late because she saw her little girl off.
I say good for her! It's an important thing, and I am totally supportive of teachers being there for the 1st day of K, even if it means missing the first hour or so of the first day of school for my child.

A personal day a week into school, I wouldn't even blink an eye about. Don't worry about it. You made the right choice.

 

[DVCJones]

Thanks again for those who posted all the support.

As I read through the posts, I noticed there is some confusion. I am not missing my FIRST day. I will be missing the 7th day.

I do not want to get into the whole Montesorri debate as I don't see the connection here.

I guess I feel that I am 1) a Mom 2) Wife and 3) a Teacher ( in that order)

My friend/teacher was concerned because we have a new Superintendent this year. She thinks missing a day so early would "flag" me as a "problem". (bad first impression) Anyway, I guess I am not that paranoid. I never even gave it a thought.

I have been there 15 years and I have plenty of accumulated time off. (sick/personal). I have taken Maternity Leave twice and 2 months off when my DD was recovering from surgery to remove cancer.

I have never abused the system and always carry personal/sick days over to the following year because I NEVER use it unless my kids are sick. I will crawl in sick, but I will always take days if my children need me for ANYTHING!!!!

I agree, that day probably will mean more to me than my DD. I do plan on picking her up after school and taking her out for lunch and talking about her first day. So, thanks to you all ( most )for validating me on my decision. I still plan on doing it!!!

 

[DreaGirl]

Good for you! In 10 years are you going to remember the 7th day of school or your DD's first day of Kinder?

As a teacher turned SAHM I understand your situation. People forget that teachers actually have a life and family of their own. Missing one day won't hurt anything esp. that early in the school year.

 

[fraggie]

I am a mom and a school administrator. I was lucky enough to have my DS at the school with me last year for Kinder. This year I am at a 5/6 campus so he will obviously be at a different school than me. I WILL take my child to school and walk him to class before I head to my school and we all have the same first day.

I say that our kids only have these "firsts" once and we can never go back if we miss them. Your Superintendent is not going to be looking at the absence lists to see who is missing and who is not unless like you said it becomes a problem and one day is not a problem.

GO FOR IT and don't feel guilty. Your students will be just fine.