Career and Kids

Working parents and after school activities

by elizabeth on March 2nd, 2007

Despite all the talk about kids being “overscheduled”, the fact is, as they get older, many kids will have even more extracurricular activities, and, many of them will be in the afternoon.

The same “afternoon” while you are at work.

However, when there is only one parent, or, when both parents work, getting kids places is more complicated.

Our children are involved in several activities, and, you’re right, it is by our choice. We try very hard to let them (within reason) do what they are interested in doing, and, sometimes, it is more than one thing. It’s not in the interest of fame or a scholarship, the activities are simply things they enjoy doing, and, they get to be with their friends who are doing the same things.

Even though it can be a challenge to get them there, we try very hard not to tell them they can’t do something simply because we both work. We are fortunate that my husband is a teacher, and, is done earlier in the afternoon than I am. But, even so, sometimes, the afternoon schedule can be an exercise in logistics.

Occasionally, activity is at school, and, it’s kind of nice, because I can usually pick them up on my way home from work. But, other times, activities such as sports practices or games may be somewhere else, and, we need help getting them there.

We usually try to cover these instances in several ways.

Many activities, such as sports, are for a limited time, usually a couple of months. If our schedules don’t permit us to transport our children where they need to go, I usually try to ask several people for a specific time frame (i.e. “Can you take her to the game this week and next?”) to take them to the activity, and, I offer to bring their child home.

If they offer to do it for the whole season, I will offer to pay them for their efforts, but, no one has ever accepted. We are fortunate that many of the parents of their friends are also friends of ours, and, they are willing to help. But, I am very sensitive to how often I ask them for help.

Other times, I may choose 2-3 days during the time frame in question to arrange to leave work early to transport them. I might work through lunch one day in order to leave an hour earlier, but, this way, my time off can be scheduled ahead of time.

Occasionally, my dad can help out since, often it is just a matter of transporting someone from point A to point B, and, they are old enough to be left at the activity until one of us can get there.

I have even asked the coach of a sports team (where it is acceptable) to pick them up for a practice, you might be surprised what they will do if they want them there badly enough.

I’ve also asked teachers (people we know outside of school) who I know are traveling the same direction, to take the kids where they need to go. But, it helps if the kids’ father teaches the teacher’s kid, and, that kid is not doing too well in the class, but, I digress.

Your babysitter might be another option for transportation. Sometimes, high school or college students are available, and, they can make a couple of dollars for their efforts.

Sometimes, getting everyone where they need to go is complicated, but, with a little effort, we can usually work things out.

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