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Countdown to Homework

As Labor Day weekend creeps in, with all its ominous hurricane predictions, I begin conjuring images of crunchy autumn leaves and new textbooks and frenetic kids and school buses flooding our roads.

The delirious dad skipping down the aisles in a STAPLES commercial sums it up for many parents.  Yippee, school's open, "Drive Safely" and all that, but make no mistake, school's OPEN!  

Funny though, what I hear more and more often as my kids grow and take on more responsibilities, both with homework and extra-curricular activities, is that parents are not excited for school to begin.  It seems that many of the moms I know are dreading it all: the schedules, the homework, the driving, packing the lunches, the snacks, and so on.

Our kids responsibilities have become our jobs.  One friend has said on several occasions, "I can't talk now, we are doing homework."  I really don't understand how our kids' homework has become "our" homework.  Of course they need help every now and then, but why are we co-assuming their tasks?  Why are we not just someone off to the side, taking care of our own business while they take care of theirs? 

If we take a few steps back from the homework desk/table/arena, then maybe we're helping our kids take a few steps forward.  

julie



Comments

Joanne said…
I agree...
Part of parenting is to foster independence.
September 4, 2010 at 1:09 PM
Anonymous said…
call dial a teacher! 212-777-3380
September 8, 2010 at 5:43 PM
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