We met the teachers on both Tuesday (Lou’s teacher) and Wednesday (Boo’s teacher); it was about an hour affair discussing class rules and all. All things considered it went well. We divided and conquered. Hubby went to Lou’s and I went to Boo’s. It just turned out that way because I was working late for the budget on Tuesday and Hubby at bike polo on Wednesday. Apparently my first impressions of Mrs. G (Lou’s teacher) couldn’t have been more wrong. Hubby thought she was fabulous, very warm, calm and understanding. She even apologized for the school supply lists admitting they were excessive and not her idea. They were in place before she was hired. Lou couldn’t be happier with her. Just loves her and wants so desperately to do well. She gets up early and gets herself dressed every morning (sometimes before even us!) She couldn’t be a more model student and we couldn’t be happier.

After hearing all this late Tuesday night, I thought everything was a slam dunk. Boo’s teacher (Miss B) was awesome and everyone seemed to love Mrs. G. I went to the Back to school night all ready to go. About 30 minutes into it, we got a full blown description of both the homework and other at home work that was required during the week. Boo will bring home homework on Monday and turn it in on Friday. In addition to the homework, she is required to read (to us or someone else) at least 20 minutes a day then write a few sentences in her Reading Journal summarizing what she read. In addition there is a Math Log where she has a daily problem to do at home. After the problem is done, she has to write a sentence on how she solved the problem from a big picture side. She also has a planner where she must document her homework or other things to be done daily and it is our responsibility to sign off on it every night. She has a Friday Folder that contains her schoolwork and the newsletter that must be returned Monday. It also stays in her folder enabling Ms B to send home notes to us directly. We have to check it every night because if something is it in it, it usually needs to be returned the next day. Now bear in mind I have about 45 minutes daily to spend with the kids. I guess it should be changed to HAD about 45 minutes to spend with the kids. Boo is a slow reader and writer, and very methodical about everything. For her to read 20 minutes, and then summarize the reading will take at least another 20 minutes. I have just sucked up all of the time (providing I give 5 minutes to Lou) and we haven’t touched the planners, the Math Log or her homework. If just the homework could be done on the weekend it would help dramatically, but I don’t see that happening either. I hope Boo is able to hold it together this fall. She had such a hard time adjusting to the significantly higher workload last year that she made herself physically ill about half the days. I hope this transition will be easier for her.

Would I trade my Working Mom title for a SAHM one? Nope. I love my job. Love love love it. I think I am a better mom when I am working, but do I feel like my kids might be getting the short end of the stick sometimes, yes. Yes I do. It isn’t their fault that their mom isn’t a good SAH one, that she isn’t good at helping with homework in a positive and constructive manner (we spent many a night in tears doing homework last year). Is it putting them further behind in school? I don’t know, but I certainly hope not. I think I just need to figure out how to make it work better. If anyone has any great suggestions, for goodness sake please let me know.