Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Working moms get the shaft

Hey, if any of you have questions, I will put together a Q & A post this weekend and try and answer them all. I am a pretty open book and not easily offended, so feel free to ask away.

I have a huge pet peeve to vent about today. Why does everyone schedule kids activities during the weekdays when us working mothers don't have a chance of getting our kids there? Swim lessons? T-Th at 11 am. Little Chef's class? Wed at 1 pm. A weeklong science camp? 9-3 daily. What is the deal people? A lot of women work outside the home, more and more all the time. And we have kids. Kids who want to learn to swim, take tumbling classes, go to camps. I know, I could quit my job and stay home so I was there to run them back and forth, but then I couldn't afford to sign them up. Besides, I have been a single mom and if I didn't have a career I would have been living on welfare and sponging off all of you. So people, those of you who run these programs, drag yourselves into the current century and realize that there are LOTS of working mothers who would be signing up in droves if you offered classes outside of the business hours.

Katie had a really rough day yesterday. She has hit the point where the scabs are drying up and pulling away. She called me crying begging me to do something, which left me nearly in tears because I just can't make it better. Hopefully today she will have turned the corner and be getting better. Ashley is still being wonderful taking care of her. I am amazed at how well my girls get along. Maybe it is because they live apart, or maybe they are just different enough to be able to be good friends.

The agent in Hollywood has indicated she is very interested in Katie. Now I am doing more homework and if everything looks good, we may fly out there for an interview. I am keeping it low key intentionally. This really isn't the industry I want any of my family pulled into, but if she could do a couple of small things and put the $$ in her college fund, that would be cool. And fun. I also slipped in a picture of Ashley witht he ones I sent. Might as well give her a shot too!

We have a 3-day weekend coming up and we plan on doing major yard work. Besides getting the existing beds re-worked, we want to make beds to plant pumpkins and watermelon, plus more landscaping, etc. Then there is the new brick patio and rose garden to start on. Grass seed to sow, treat the pond to get it ready to stock, etc etc. That is my idea of the perfect 3-day weekend. Sad but true. I love the outdoors. I love plants. I love dirt. I love sunshine. It's going to be a good one!!!

10 comments:

Becky said...

Amen! I am a single working mom and have been repeatedly frustrated with the lack of available extra-curricular activities for my girls.

LouLou said...

I was a working single mom for years, and it was so hard trying to get my boys anywhere!

Poor Katie! and Poor Mama! I pray she is already better.....

Anonymous said...

Poor Katie, hang in there mom...

So, when are you booking that flight? I will be there!!!

Also - I love the outdoors. I love plants. I love dirt. I love sunshine. It's going to be a good one!!! - We must get that from Dad!!

I love you and all your babies!

Anonymous said...

LOL! So true!

Do you have anymore area left to actually sow grass seed??? I mean seriously, b/w the trees, strawberry plants, watermelons, pumpkin patch, tomatoes, etc. how can you possible have any more grass ;) Sounds great to me. Have fun this weekend.

Krystal said...

You are singing my tune! I get so frustrated with everything being scheduled during working hours -- once, just once, I would like to be able to take my tot to an activity!!!

Autumn said...

Thank you for pointing that out!

I'm always looking at the adult activities and they are ALL during weekly work hours. There is not 1 thing to do after work or weekends. I really do wonder about the people scheduling and whether their classes have like 2 people in them? It must be nice to not have to work like everyone else in the world...

Ellie said...

I am so there with you about the week day stuff... COME ON PEOPLE... Us working moms need a break...

I am keeping my fingers crossed on the Star... ANd yet maybe 2 stars~~

Outside... IT is so beautiful outside these days, sping is here... The kids and I were in the backyard Monday night after work actually doing yard work! I have 1 flower bed completely done! LOVE THE FRESH AIR...

OH, and getting ready for that easter bunny to hide some eggs!

HUGS

A said...

I kind of have a flip side of the coin. Why do they schedule things moms might be interested in at night, when we want to be with our families?

I'm trying to find classes to take Spanish while my kids are in school and everything is at night when I want to be with them and my husband.

I think the smart thing to do would be offer day and night classes for everyone!

Sorry to hear Katie is having it so rough. My daughter didn't have such a tough time, but she was only 6, so I'm guessing the older you get the worse it is. Hopefully she'll feel better soon!

Baby John's Crib said...

Oh my gosh, are you right about the scheduling! I don't even know any mom's who don't work full-time....And that's exactly it - if I didn't work, I couldn't afford to enroll my son in activities.

Even the local Guatemalan play group tends to meet on weekdays, which is why we've never met them. I'd think people would want to get out of the house on the weekends?

I hope Katie feels better soon!

Kim said...

Tell Katie that it DOES get better. The scabs falling off were the worst. For me, it wasn't as much pain as it was just a nasty feeling/taste in the back of my throat and nothing tasted good.

Even though I only work 3 days I a week - I'm with you. I've been wanting to put Alex in swim lessons, but they are 4 days a week during the day. Same with story time at the library - it's on a day that I work!