When I was a kid I looked forward to early dismissals and days off. As a parent I have a whole different perspective on the matter. Take today for instance, all public schools in Mobile County dismissed students at 11:50 for some type of teacher in-service training. Seems like I had just dropped Tyler off when it was time to return to get him. And while I certainly think teachers need on-going training in order to be more effective teachers this did throw a monkey wrench into my work plans.
But I shouldn’t complain, I work from home and the school is just down the street. But I do feel sorry for those mothers who have small kids and have to work outside the home. On days like this what’s a parent to do? Unless you work from home, have a flexible work arrangement or have back-up childcare, on days like this you may find yourself in a pickle.
It’s a shame that with more and more women in the workforce with young kids, companies aren’t as flexible as they should be in terms of allowing mothers, and fathers too, time off to care for their kids. Many parents end up having no other choice but to use their vacation, sick or personal leave time to accommodate days when their children will be home from school or dismissed early. I recall a conversation I had once with a friend who told me that she not taken a real vacation or used her leave time for herself in fifteen years—–since the birth of her son.
So to answer my own question, what’s a parent to do? The first thing you need to do at the beginning of each term is check the calendar to see what days the kids have off, both full days and early dismissals. You need to make arrangements as early as possible to avoid any problems. Write the days on your calendar or in your day planner so that you won’t forget. And also provide your back-up care with a copy so they won’t forget (but you will also probably want to remind them a few days before the actual date).
Aside from using your leave time what else can you do? In some cases, depending on the type of job you have, you may be able to take your child to work with you, especially on early dismissal days. Don’t be afraid to speak up and ask your supervisor if it’s okay. Many will understand and allow you to bring your kids with you. If you have your own private office or even a cubicle and if your child is not disruptive this should not present a problem.
If taking your child to work with you is not option, most parents turn to relatives, neighbors and friends. You might want to get together with a group of parents and set up a child care swap. Especially if you have parents who work different shifts. Another option is to get older teens to babysit for you. Many daycare centers also offer a drop in service where you can pay on an hourly basis. Check with home-based daycare centers as well.
Finally, you may need to actually hire someone, an older retired neighbor or stay-at-home mom for example, who can take care of your kids when they are off and you have to work. The best option of course would be for employers to recognize that being a mother is a full-time job and make flexible work options available to all mothers. Until that time, you’ll have to be creative and use the options you have available.