I'm overreacting but...

monishabansal

A local mom's group is hosting a preschool fair where all of the preschools around will have information. This is the 10th year they are doing this. This year they are hosting it on a weekday from 9 am to noon.  I think it's ridiculous that they scheduled this during the day on a weekday. I know I'm overreacting, but it makes me feel like they're saying your kid is unloved and deserves to be stupid if you work.

Nechie122

Yes, you're overreacting. Believe me, I get annoyed too about all the moms groups and women's clubs that only meet on weekday mornings, but if you think about it, that's when SAHMs need the most support. It's not about thinking that children of working moms deserve to be uneducated. Plus, wouldn't a working mom already have her kids in a preschool program? My daycare goes up to kindergarten and we're not taking DD out of it next year.

Finally, I'm sure those times work best for the preschools themselves. If you work at a preschool, do you want to give up your weekend or evening with your own family for this silly event? It's not like we're talking college here.

Brit's Luna154

Yeah, it is annoying, but I can see why it is planned then. Can you block your calendar for an hour or two and just go? That's probably what I would do, but my work hours are somewhat flexible. If you can't flex at all, then I can see how it would be extra aggrivating.

ridesbuttons

 "but it makes me feel like they're saying your kid is unloved and deserves to be stupid if you work"

I don't think this is what they are saying at all and if this is the only real way to get info on the local preschools then I think the preschools are dropping the ball by taking a big segment of their market out of the pool (ie: the working family market).

Seriously: what's wrong with Saturday morning?

1026pumpkin

I'd be annoyed too, but I can understand why SAHMs look to plan activities in the middle of the day, and it's probably easier for a preschool principal to come during the work day then on their free time.  Since it's a one-off thing, I'd try to just take a .5 personal day from work and go.....it is saving you the time of having to go out and research each place individually.

Dochas

I've never heard of a pre-school or daycare having tours or open houses on the weekend or at night.  These things always happen during school hours for schools and during the hours daycares are normally open.

LoCarb

Dochas:

I've never heard of a pre-school or daycare having tours or open houses on the weekend or at night.  These things always happen during school hours for schools and during the hours daycares are normally open.

After our DC/PS rec'd new owners they began open houses on wknds and evenings.  Attendance increased drastically.  More schools should consider this option.  Also, assuming there is at least one working parent in the household, the alternative schedule would seem ideal.  If only the DC/PS owners could read this thread....

monishabansal

Dochas:

I've never heard of a pre-school or daycare having tours or open houses on the weekend or at night.  These things always happen during school hours for schools and during the hours daycares are normally open.

If it was an open house I would totally understand this (you want to see how they operate). But this is more of a trade show type of deal where they each have a table to talk about their programs and provide info.

Also, while I don't mean to sound critical of SAHMs I actually don't think this event is intended to be a support group type of thing. I think they are sponsoring a community event. I emailed them to see if they are planning on having other sessions at other times. If worse comes to worst, DH said he'd be able to take a half day.

carlab44

Well around here preschool is generally a half day thing with set hours that seems to be more geared to SAHPs. As opposed to daycare (even though most daycares have a preschool type focus for ages 3 and up) which is all day with more flexible drop off/pick up times and is more used by working parents. So if something like that were organized here I could sort of see why it would make sense to gear the event to SAHPs.

Angela814

carlab44:

Well around here preschool is generally a half day thing with set hours that seems to be more geared to SAHPs. As opposed to daycare (even though most daycares have a preschool type focus for ages 3 and up) which is all day with more flexible drop off/pick up times and is more used by working parents. So if something like that were organized here I could sort of see why it would make sense to gear the event to SAHPs.

That's what I'm thinking. If you're a working mom, your child is generally in daycare where they should already be in a preschool program. A standard "preschool" is just a few hours/day, which isn't exactly convenient for working parents anyway.

shannm

Yeah, overreacting.  Most of the open houses that I will attend for potential schools for DS are during the day.  I am just going to have to make it work.  Also, what about the parents that work at night or on the weekends?  My point is that is while annoying, it is nothing personal against working parents.

davisas2323

They could at least extend the time until 1pm so working moms could use their lunch break. I'm sure it's not personal, just inconsiderate I suppose.