Why?
Well, number one, I enjoy having my kids home. They’re both fairly independent and they get along about 70% of the time. For another 20% the tall kid will get annoyed, don his iPod earbuds and disappear into his room. The other 10% requires maternal intervention, which is usually pretty effective. I just like their company.
But also, their going to school really disrupts my day and I get less time to write. Doesn’t make much sense, does it?
What I consider “my day” is from the time I’ve finished my coffee and prelimary internet browsing to the time I have to turn my attention toward the husband coming home, making supper, etc. That “day” encompasses housework, errands, any work for the husband’s company and my writing.
During the summer that day starts at about seven and goes until the husband gets home—anywhere from four to six. Let’s say four.
But a school day?
Up about 6:30, down a coffee, check email. Get the tall kid geared up for school and drive him there by 7:30. Come home and gear the short kid up for school, drive him there by 8:30. Do a few errands while I’m out and get home by 9. Then I usually finish up my internet stuff—chatting on IM for a bit, blogging, etc. Make any phone calls, doing any faxing and such. Wrap that up by 10. Leave to pick up the tall kid at 2:15, then pick up the short kid at 3:15, go through backpacks, supervise homework, etc., then the husband’s home.
So “my day” during the school year gets cut to 10am to 2pm.
I LOSE 5 hours. :gaah:
Is it June yet?
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Sounds like you need to cut out the blogging, surfing, and IMing. :whip:
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With the virtual charter school, I’m taking on a commitment for about 20 hours a week, but I figure it’s breaking even over taking kid back and forth to school and doing all the parent volunteer stuff the public school requires. (Parents are required to provide snacks, volunteer to prepare and serve snacks, to teach art lessons…seriously, I may be coming out ahead to have ’em do the virtual charter school.)
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No school buses?
(Notice I didn’t suggest cutting down on blogging or IM’ing) :coffee:
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Cutting out IM?
:hide:
No school buses. We’re in the walking zone for the middle school, but we haven’t been comfortable with it. He might get to a little this year. The short kid’s school is a five minute WALK from here, a less than one minute drive if I hit the light green, but because of the way the buses run, not only would I have to walk half that distance anyway because the bus stop’s at the bottom of the hill, but it would take him 45 extra minutes to get home (he’d have to sit in the empty gym waiting for his bus to get back from its high school run). I’d rather take the time out of my day and save him almost an hour of his.
Required to volunteer? :eyebrow: Our school doesn’t put a lot of demands on the parents, which is both fortunate and unfortunate at the same time.
Good luck with the charter school! I hope it turns out to be the perfect thing for her (and that it works for you, too)!