OT- A question for teachers and moms.

[DVCJones]

My DD5 will be starting Kindergarten the first week in Sept. (mid week). I am a teacher in a different district and we start the Monday before Labor Day. 1 and 1/2 weeks before my DDs first day of "Big Girl School"

I had made the decision to take off her first day of school as a Personal Day for me. I was fine with this plan until I was talking with another teacher/friend and she could not believe that I would take a day off so early in the year. I was a little confused.

She explained that it looks bad and that she would NEVER do it. I believe this is a big day for my DD and I don't want to miss it. I have PERSONAL days for a reason and think this a PERSONAL and important day.

What do you think?

 

[Aliceacc]

I think a lot of it depends on your school and the relationship you have already established.

Eight years ago I took off on day #2 of school for an amnio. No problem; no questions.

This year I'll be there for the first week and a half of school, then have to have a month off for a mastectomy. I spoke to my principal last week... he said of course it wasn't a problem and to take as much time as I needed.

That said: he knows that I don't call in sick unless I'm sick or one of my kids is sick. He knows that I don't manipulate the system or lie about why I'm out. He also knows that he can count on me to teach whatever needs to be taught, in whatever grade, without a lot of notice or a big fuss. (Two years ago I bumped up from 7th grade math to Precalc for 6 weeks to cover a maternity leave. No sweat, no problems.)

I'll miss my daughter's first day of kindergarten (I was a SAHM for the other two.) I'll kiss her goodbye when I leave at 7, then the sitter will put her on the bus at 8. But I did take off last spring for her graduation from Nursery School; in my mind that was more important.

I can't give you the answer you're looking for; the best I can do is "it depends."

Best wishes, and congrats to your daughter. Scary how fast the time goes, isn't it??

 

[lillygator]

well my DD is starting K too, and while I am so excited for her and this is a big deal, neither DH or I are taking the WHOLE day off, there is no point for us. We plan on taking her to school, they have a boo hoo breakfast and then it's back to work.....

 

[PrincessKsMom]

This year I'll be there for the first week and a half of school, then have to have a month off for a mastectomy.

So sorry to hear you have a surgery in your near future. Remember your friends at the DIS are keeping you in our thoughts and prayers.

 

[java]

Yes I was going to suggest just going in late- does your district allow for half day subs? Like say I'll be in after lunch?

But it is a personal day and if my child's teacher said she wanted to go to her child's first day of Kindergarten I wouldn't care at all. I don't know if that is the reaction you would get from all the parents but personally I wouldn't be concerned. (what grade do you teach?)

 

[Aliceacc]

So sorry to hear you have a surgery in your near future. Remember your friends at the DIS are keeping you in our thoughts and prayers.

Thanks so much. Thankfully it's not cancer, just so large that it means a mastectomy. (And, as my sister said: Alice, NOTHING cancels Disney. And it didn't )

If it means I'll be around to hound my kids for the next 30 years, I can live with that happily.

But back to the subject at hand...

 

[DVCJones]

well my DD is starting K too, and while I am so excited for her and this is a big deal, neither DH or I are taking the WHOLE day off, there is no point for us. We plan on taking her to school, they have a boo hoo breakfast and then it's back to work.....

Her first day is not a full day of school. I planned to take just the morning off until I learned she had a 1/2 day.

 

[java]

Her first day is not a full day of school. I plan was to take just the morning off until I learned she had a 1/2 day.

will she go to after care on the days that her schedule doesn't match yours? I'm just thinking that there maybe quite a couple of days that you may need some time too.

 

[imthatgirl]

if you dont take the whole day off, will you be able to drop her off at school, or put her on the bus? will she be going for the full day?

when my daughter started kindergarten, she went for a full day, the first day i walked her to the door and that was it. they didnt have the parents come in, because we had already had a day where we all go in together. so taking the whole day off would have been a waste.
my son starts preschool this year and my husband wanted to take the day off to see him off, but i told him why? all im going to do is drop him off and leave?

as a parent it wouldnt bother me to here the teacher was absent within the first couple days. if after the 3rd week their teacher was absent 5 or 6 times, then i would have issues.

 

[DVCJones]

will she go to after care on the days that her schedule doesn't match yours? I'm just thinking that there maybe quite a couple of days that you may need some time too.

There is an after school program that she will attend until I can get there after I get out. This is not available on 1/2 days and snow days.

I have gone over each school calendar and discovered that there are 3 days in which there is a conflict. My DH and I plan to take turns dealing with these days.

 

[K and K's Mommy]

Two years ago my son's second grade teacher missed two days the second week of school to take her son to college. I didn't have an issue with it.

 

[3girls4me05]

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!

 

[carj]

I am a teacher and a mom and I would do it. My kids go to the school where my home base is, so it isn't an issue.

I would do it and ignore your friend.

 

[perkinsrose]

What grade do you teach? As a parent/teacher, I'd be more concerned about kids not having their own teacher for a day ,so early in the year, if it was Kindergarten or 1st grade (or younger or special needs class).

If it was 2nd grade or up--I don't think its a big deal at all.

 

[jenb1023]

Although I am not a teacher, my dd starts kindergarten later this month. I took off the whole day. I want to be the one to take her to school and pick her up on her first day. Hopefully the few hours she is there (we only have 1/2 day kindergarten) will be long enough for me to cry and pull myself back together. As a parent I would not have a problem with a teacher missing a day of school for that reason and I would hope your administration would not have a problem with it either. It is not like you are taking the day off to go have a picnic or something. It is the only first day of school she will ever have - if you feel it is important to be there then you should be!

 

[ChrisandDon'sMommy]

I am a teacher and a mom. I was present at my eldest's first day of Kindergarten only because I wasn't teaching yet. Would I have taken the day off otherwise? No, I don't really see why I would need to.

But, it's a personal choice for each parent. My hubby will probably be the one to take our second son on his first day.

 

[Camno's Mama]

I watch my friend's two daughters during the school year...she is a teacher. She went in a little late to work to take her daughter to K, and then I picked her up when her school day was over. My friend then called during her planning period to talk to her daughter and ask about how everything went.

You have to do what feels right for you...this only happens once, and if it's important, it's important! IMO...it's harder on the moms than it is on the kids! I'm sure your little will be fine, and will not think anything of it if you are not there. If she's used to you teaching, then that's probably normal for her to not have you pick her up from school, right?

Good luck!

 

[J3nn78]

I think it is fine.
I am a teacher and a mom too. I am actually a little sad that I will not be bringing my oldest to his first day of preschool. It is on my second day of school. DH will bring him.

When he starts kindergarden, he will be going to the same school I work at. So I will be a few minutes late in greeting my students at the door that day. I am sure the parents will understand.

 

[DVCJones]

I teach in a middle school....

My DD will go to full day Kindergarten, however, the first day is a half day. So not only do I feel it is important to be there and make her feel special and proud, I also need the rest of the day for when she gets out.

After the first day, it will be full days. My DH will do the drop off (no bus) and I or DH will pick her up from the after school program.

Thanks again for the support!

 

[Tiffany_MommyOf3]

Im a SAHM but dh is taking the entire day off. He is our first and has never really been away from us LOL. He will go to class, we will go to the boo hoo/yahoo breakfast and then home with the other kids, dh is taking a whole day off because he wants to pick him up from school with me... find out how he did/what he did. Its important to us.