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daycare centers & their holiday parties

alisonadaalisonada member
in Working Moms

So we're brand new to the daycare center thing, have only been going there for a couple weeks. So far we love it!

But yesterday in the mail we got invitations to their Valentine's Day Party, it's on Friday at 3:00 pm. I knew they were having a party because my toddler's teacher asked me to bring Valentine's signed by her on Friday, but I had no idea that parents would be asked to attend! My DH just started a new job and is in classroom training this week so there's no way he can go. I could probably ask to leave early to go, and it would be granted (I would have to leave 3 hours early), but I just had to call in today to stay home with my sick baby - and I honestly don't want to push my luck at work right now as I just came back from maternity leave and they just laid a bunch of people off. But I really want to go and meet the parents of the kids in my DD's classes, and I would hate for my older DD to be the new girl whose parents don't even show up!

If your center has parties, do you or DH go to them all? Are most of the parents usually there? Also - what do they usually have parties for (I'm planning ahead) - I figure probably Valentines, Halloween, Christmas....

I'm torn about if I should ask to leave early again after calling in today.

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Re: daycare centers & their holiday parties

  • IFMTSIFMTS

    I would find a way to go.

    If DH & I both can't attend a holiday party, at least one of us does. It's so sad to see the kids faces of the parents who couldn't attend, I never want my son's face to be that sad.

    I know it's hard, but I think it's very important and my son has so much fun when we are there. These are moments you will treasure.

    On a side note, most of the parents in my son's school work in the building, because in order to attend his daycare, your parent or grandparent has to work for the company. My child is the only one with a grandparent in the building, so it baffles me when the parents can't walk downstairs to the center to attend.

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  • momofoliviamomofolivia

    Well now I feel like a shiiity mom.  I don't go to her parties.  They are smack in the middle of the day, and my time off is scarce.  I just can't justify taking off 2-3 hours to go to a v-day party.  Plus, I don't think she really knows that I am not there.

    The only other party they have had was a Halloween costume parade.  That one I wanted to go to, but just couldn't.

    I asked the director who they get to come to the parties and to do volunteer stuff, and she said that they have a lot of SAHMs that drop their kids off for VPK.

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  • PeskyPesky member

    I wouldn't if you are at all worried about leaving early.  I usually try to go but I have a very flexible job thankfully.  But there are a number of parents who do not make the parties and no one ever comments about it.  Yes, there is Valentine's Day, usually a summer picnic/party kind of thing, Halloween and maybe Christmas but that is hit or miss as DD is usually out then for vacation.


    image
    DD -- 5YO
    DS -- 3YO

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  • duchess0727duchess0727
    I went to my son's holiday party (for the actual holidays) and I was one of just a handful of parents.  Many of the parents at our center just can't afford to use their time off for stuff like that and at this age, our kids don't even care if we are there.  In fact, it's more of a distraction.  I attended the Halloween party and my son cried the entire time because I was there and not holding him.  I think it's nice if you can go to the important ones - but seriously, I would save the time for when your kids are old enough to remember that you are there.  I would also save the time for Halloween, Christmas/Hannukah, etc - if they are going to have a party for every minor holiday, there is no way parents can go.  We aren't invited to the V-day party although we were asked to bring food, which works out because I can't make it. 
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  • sara1104sara1104
    I went to one just because it fit into my schedule that day, the others we have either been gone for, or we haven't gone.  It tough to be away from work when I've already been away so much b/c she was sick.
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  • Bella427Bella427 member
    No real parties at DD's school but they did have a Halloween "parade" where they all had their costumes on and walked around the parking lot in a circle.  I'd say probably 30-40% of the parents were there.  I was lucky enough to have a flexible schedule that day and took pictures of the kids and gave some to the parents who couldn't attend.  DD is only 14 months old though, and only 1 other mom in her room attended and they were all too young to know the difference. 
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  • ali-1411ali-1411 member

    I never understood why daycares do that stuff in the middle of the day.  Obviously if I'm available at 3pm then my kid wouldn't be in daycare! 

     

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  • madhatter2003madhatter2003

    we rarely go to any of her parties. My DH did go to her christmas one and I caught the tail end of it but that was the exception this past year.

    I'll get to go this week only because I'm on maternity leave. But at the christmas one only 2 other kids parents were there out of the 8 kids in the class.

    My two PCOS miracles! Lilypie Kids Birthday tickersLilypie Kids Birthday tickers
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  • beenbizzybeenbizzy member

    I had the same reaction as ali.  DS is at daycare b/c DH and I are at work, so attending daycare parties are not an option.  The kids have parties just for the kids.  At Christmas they give parents a wish list of craft-type items.  We buy if we want and wrap them, then the kids open them at their party.  Our daycare has several family nights throughout the year.  In the spring we have a potluck/picnic.  A halloween costume party and hayride.  A Christmas program in the winter (yes, even the babies participated).

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  • molldoll71molldoll71
    The only party/show we've ever gone to is the Xmas one which they had a night.  No way would I take off work for a Valentine's Day party - I need to save goodwill for things that are important to me.  She won't know the difference or remember.  Don't feel bad though!
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  • GettinNervousGettinNervous

    My daycare has their parties on Fridays @ 2:30. I try to go, but it's not always possible. DH goes sometimes in my place or with me. All it consists of is a table full of kids being stuffed with cookies and cupcakes for 1/2 hour. The parents don't really say much, and most of the time I don't know which parent belong to which kid. I can never say much to anyone, because I'm taking care of my kids while they are eating. Then we take them home.

     I am taking a vacation day the Friday before Mother's Day, because last year the daycare had a tea party and I couldn't go because of work. That was one that bothered me!!! I know they are having another party the Thursday before Easter (closed Good Friday.)

     

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  • jlw2505jlw2505 member
    At my center, most of the parents do not go.  When I have gone, ther are typically only a few parents there.  We have monthly parent events and I honestly can only make it to a few a year at most as the timing is just not great for my job and I don't think my DH has made it to any of them. 
    Jenni Mom to DD#1 - 6-16-06 DD#2 - 3-13-08 
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