Single Parenting

Next Monday, August 27th, my son will boldy take a step into a new place. A place filled with new responsibilities, new faces, new things to learn, and no Mom around to hold his hand when he gets a little nervous.

My son is going into the first grade.

From what I understand, the first grade is filled with spelling tests, new sets of rules, and 10 times more work than kindergarten. All of which I’m pretty happy about. If you ask me, schools spend too much time teaching our children how to socialize and not enough time teaching them fractions.

Sebastian is ready. He’s being very brave about the whole thing and is just a little antsy about spending another year with a teacher that he doesn’t yet know. Luckily, we have first grade orientation this Thursday from 4 - 6 pm.

Which brings me to my next point. I have to take vacation from work to attend this event. Do schools not realize that single parents exist, and considering we are a one -income household, have to work? Could they not have scheduled the orientation from 6 - 8 pm instead?

The sports arena has the same train of thought. Practices are scheduled at 5:30, leaving us just enough time to screech out of summer camp after work, pray that we don’t get a ticket, and come sliding onto the field at the last second. Nevermind dinner, homework, downtime, cleaning the house.. all of that can wait.

Personally, I would think coaches, teachers, principals, bosses.. everyone really… would realize that we are a growing population and certain considerations can be made.

How about all of the other single parents out here? How crazy do your schedules get in the afternoons? Do you think that sports, school events, etc are primarily scheduled for dual-parent households?