Does your child's class have a room parent?

[HappyEarthCreations]

I am the room parent for my daughter's class. It's a really small class, and all the other parents had inflexible schedules making it difficult for them to do it, so I got the job. I am required to work with the teacher to carry out what he wants to do, so I'm really more of a helper. We have a Harvest party, a Winter party, and a Valentine's party. I imagine we will do something for the end of the year too. We had a big class potluck right before Christmas where all the parents were invited. It was really fun.

I email parents all the time. I always send out an email a couple of weeks before a party asking for help, cupcakes, etc. I also send out emails to remind parents about field trips, registration deadlines, etc.

[KLeeCW]

Thanks everyone for all the input! I like the practice some of your kids' teachers have of sending something out in the beginning of the year. I know DS's teacher kind of leaves it up to the room parent to plan things. I'm hoping she or the room parent get back to me this afternoon about if I can bring anything in. I honestly LOVE planning parties for my kid's classroom. I like to contribute. I do remember though from when DS was in preschool how disheartening it can be when you send an email for people to bring things and only 3-4 actually respond. Maybe she just decided it wasn't worth it to try to include the other parents? I really don't know.

[sojomisa]

I have one in 6th, 4th and preK and have never been made aware of a room mom. In any grade. The teachers send notes home for parties and room needs.

My bff, who lives about a hour from me, complains that her co-room mom is unavailable nearly 100% of the time and is not responsive.

[Dory]

Here room moms are the ones who bring or send stuff for parties: Halloween, Christmas, and Valentine's Day. The head room mom is the one who organizes who brings what. On Halloween, I was told to bring apples and grapes. Christmas, I was told to bring grapes. Tomorrow? I haven't gotten a call, text, email, smoke signal, nothing. I volunteered to be the head room mom, but the teacher picked this other mom and named me Co head room mom? Whatever that's supposed to mean? But I don't have any names, numbers, emails or anything.

[luvsviola]

We just use SignUP Genius. That way the teachers can say what they need, and you know who is bringing what. It is free.

http://www.signupgenius.com/index.cfm

[KLeeCW]

Originally Posted by luvsviola We just use SignUP Genius. That way the teachers can say what they need, and you know who is bringing what. It is free. http://www.signupgenius.com/index.cfm

This is exactly what we used for DS's preschool. Everyone would sign up and another mom and i would coordinate from there. It worked so well.

[GEMQEMCABOOSE]

Room parents for each of our grades. Love it!!

[mcpforever]

Originally Posted by KLeeCW Do they do anything? At all? DS's kindergarten room parent does not. She has only sent one email for a Halloween party and nothing before or since. Nothing special for Thanksgiving, or the 100th day of school, nothing for Valentine's day on Thursday. DS says she has come in a few times to read to the class. Why volunteer for something if you aren't going to put in the effort? I was a room parent for DS's preschool. I wanted to do it again this year, but I was 9 months pregnant when the school year started (DD was born mid September). I told this year's teacher I'd do it if no one else would, but 5 other people asked, so I figured it was all good and I'd just volunteer my time or resources. The room parent doesn't send emails asking for help or to plan anything. She doesn't respond to emails either. It's just left me . I just sent an email to DS's teacher asking if there is anything I can do for Valentine's Day on Thursday. I don't think it's fair to the kids not to be able to do any celebrations because an adult can't get it together. I can understand being overwhelmed or having personal things arise where you can no longer keep a commitment, but why not tell the teacher or ask one of the other parents to step in?

You know what's really sad? Being a room mom with nothing to do. Yeah, that would be me. So far about all I've been allowed to do is organize a shower that never was (due to an early labor) and help out with a Christmas Party. Christmas I organized everything kind of last minute with my co room mom, because I couldn't get any instructions until then. The principal kind of went off the deep end with what was allowed right after the tragedy in Sandy Hook.

Valentine's Day is one of our THREE parties we are allowed to have. This year, the principal has decided that it is a kid only party and they are allowed to have a special snack and a special time with their teacher. I was told to bring in prepackaged Little Debbies.

So other than coming in every week to do whatever I can in the copy room for the teacher, there just isn't much that I am "allowed" to do as room mom. I take all of my cues from the teacher.

ETA: It may not be that she's not doing anything. It just may be that there's not much for her to do. PS Kindergarten is much different than preschool. It's changed since we were there. It's changed since my eldest was there, too. I feel like I do less as room mom this year than I did as just a parent when my eldest was in K.

[s@hmommy]

Nope. DD's school has a parent/teacher coordinator that does all the things that a room mom would do like organizing holiday parties and such.

[KLeeCW]

Well, DS's teacher finally emailed me back. She deeply apologized that I wasn't included in the emails to help with the parties. Apparently there have been a couple this school year. She gave me the details for tomorrow's party. Basically what's been happening is the room mom and a few other moms formed a clique and have been planning everything without emailing the rest of the parents to even invite them. What is wrong with people? This is my kid's childhood too, you don't think I'd like to enjoy it too? Super annoyed right now.