School is starting and the teacher is asking for room parent volunteers. You would like to play a bigger role in your child’s classroom, but it just doesn’t seem possible. Well, you can.
In fact, working moms make great room parents. A room parent is a facilitator, someone who takes on a lot of little projects, delegates and manages them. As a working mom, these are skills you use every day just to survive home and work. Tap into these skills as a room parent.
There are a lot of great articles on room parenting – but often, those suggestions require more face-time commitment than most full-time working moms have. But the principles behind these articles can be applied and modified for the working mom. I’m not going to fool you – it’s not a walk in the park, but it is do-able and worth the effort.
If you are up for the challenge, here are some tried and true tips on how you can be an effective working mom room parent and live to talk about it!
1.) Recruit a co-room parent. This could be another working mom or a stay-at-home mom. Having co-room parents make it easier to stay on top of classroom events and to cover for you in the event of a sudden meeting or business trip. Split up the responsibilities between the two of you. Your co-room parent could be responsible for the communication with the teacher and you could be responsible for planning events and creating sign-up sheets.
2.) Get your classroom online ASAP. Use new startup group services (Qlubb, Bigtent, Convos, Center'd) as your third co-room parent. By putting events, sign-up sheets, rosters online, you significantly reduce the need to communicate and remind parents of events and volunteering opportunities.
3.) Ask for help from other parents. Parents actually like to help -- most just want to know specifically help. In your introductory email, solicit skills and interests from the parent body. Some responsibilities that can be easily delegated to other parents include -- class photographer, class treasurer, book club manager (e.g. monthly scholastic book club), recess coordinator. Have everyone coordinate the respective activities on the classroom group site.
4.) Make an effort to attend outside-of-the-classroom events like birthday parties and playdates. Part of being a room parent is being in touch with what is going on among the families. So, if you cannot participate in the post-drop off coffee talks, make an effort to attend as many weekend birthday parties and playdates -- so that parents get to know you and feel comfortable working with you.
Enjoy!
8 comments so far...
===== http://www.clothes6.org ====
Air jordan(1-24)shoes $30
Handbags(Coach l v f e n d i d&g) $30
Tshirts (Polo ,ed hardy,lacoste) $15
Jean(True Religion,ed hardy,coogi) $30
Sunglasses(Oakey,coach,gucci,A r m a i n i) $15
New era cap $12
Bikini (Ed hardy,polo) $20
===== http://www.clothes6.org/ ====
===== http://www.clothes6.org/ ====
Flag as inappropriate Posted by jeje116 on 2nd May 2012
Welcome to ==== http://www.fashion-long-4biz.com ==
Air Jordan (1-24) shoes $35
UGG BOOT $50
Nike shox (R4, NZ, OZ, TL1, TL2, TL3) $35
Handbags ( Coach Lv fendi D&G) $35
T-shirts (polo, ed hardy, lacoste) $16
Jean (True Religion, ed hardy, coogi)$34
Sunglasses ( Oakey, coach, Gucci, Armaini)$15
New era cap $16
Bikini (Ed hardy, polo) $18
FREE SHIPPING
http://www.fashion-long-4biz.com
http://www.fashion-long-4biz.com
http://www.fashion-long-4biz.com
http://www.fashion-long-4biz.com
http://www.fashion-long-4biz.com
http://www.fashion-long-4biz.com
Flag as inappropriate Posted by on 31st December 2011
Flag as inappropriate Posted by ClassroomComm on 20th February 2011
Flag as inappropriate Posted by el-e-e on 9th February 2011
I am the mother of 6 children and I have vol in each one classroom either as a room mother or helping with special events.
One of the main reasons I started my biz is so I could be involved in their school life. As long as I know about the project/event/need in advance I can work it into my schedule. SOmetime I make calls,send emails or do printing. Other time Im in the class or on the feild trip.
THe only issue I have is that every year there is a mom who makes a remark about about working moms needing to do more.
It drives me nuts because every mom helps out in the way that fits best for her family ,so why is there this need to judge?
Is the mom who spends everyday at the school and is on every committee really better then the mom who can only donate food/$$ due to work schedule?
NO
I know alot of my working girlfriends feel push out of helping....you article is a great remiinder that moms can make mom life and work life come together in harmony
Flag as inappropriate Posted by Brandy @ BanishTheBadMoodMama.com on 15th September 2008
Flag as inappropriate Posted by Mom2Rylie on 12th September 2008
This year I am looking forward to co-room parent duties again for my youngest daughter's class as well as coordinating the class project for my oldest daughter's kindergarten class.
Flag as inappropriate Posted by Mary Brosch on 3rd September 2008
Flag as inappropriate Posted by Nataly on 3rd September 2008