A card from Fair Play by Eve Rodsky
School Service (Kids)
When you agreed to chaperone the museum field trip, it seemed like a worthwhile opportunity to spend time with your child and his classmates. Which it was . . . until you found yourself sitting at the back of a school bus trying not to puke. This card pulls you into a time-sucking vortex that includes reading through a chain of 43 emails (was “reply all” really necessary?), school-sponsored lectures (another one?), and baking cupcakes (nut-free?). And what’s up with schools requesting volunteers to be class “moms”? Dads make excellent class parents, too, ya know.
Holding this card means owning all three
Conception
The kids have school
Planning
- Researching volunteer opportunities, which might include the following:
- Stuffing folders
- Community service projects
- Admin work for teachers/school staff
- Serving as room parent
- Working with students in small groups
- Baking for teachers/food for teachers
- Musical/choir/band/strings concerts
- Field trip chaperone
- School picnics and potlucks
- Lunch, snack, carpool line duty
- School improvement projects (painting murals, etc.)
- School fundraisers (bake sales, lemonade stands, etc.)
- Field day
- Art fairs
- Book fairs
- Talent shows
- STEM night
- PTA
- Class parties
- Spirit wear
- Social parents’ nights out
- Signing up for your commitment/arranging childcare for other children (if applicable)
Execution
- Showing up for and fulfilling your commitments
Suggested Minimum Standard of Care
If this card is important to you both, are you an appropriately active and responsive member of your school community?
A starting point. You and your partner agree the real standard together, and the holder meets it without reminders.
Holding it well
- The holder owns all of it: noticing, planning and doing. No “just tell me what to do.”
- Agree the Minimum Standard of Care together, then let the holder meet it their way.
- Not working? Bring it to the weekly check-in and re-deal it. Don’t take it back mid-week.
Put this card on your table
Deal it, agree its standard, and see who holds what. Free.