One final thought I would like to add to this discusion that is not really about these breakfast but rather a thought about all the events our kids take part in ... Often as adults we have different expectations then our children do. I learned this lesson during my child's soccer season.

Myself along with all the other parents hated the program and were not happy with the coaches at all. All everyone did was stand on the sidelines and bitch and moan. One day it occured to me that my kid was really having fun and enjoying the coach and the program. I finally asked her about it and she told me she loved playing and she loved her coach. So I began to ask other kids on the team the same question all of them gave me the same answer. It made me feel stupid about all the complaining I had been doing. I joined my child so that she could learn the game and have fun. The truth was, that is exactly what she was getting out of it.

Did I have different expectations yes, but at the end of the day what I wanted did not matter. So I shut my mouth. When other people opened their mouths I then posed the question to them and told them exactly what I had come to figure out that we were all bitching about nonesense and our kids were enjoying themselves. We needed to all just shut up and watch our kids have fun.

That's a great solution!

We hold our Donuts w/ Dad or Muffins w/ Mom before school and we hold it more than once a year because not everyone can come each time. We charge $2.00 per family to pay for the whole event and it works out great. As for kids without parents to attend, our fantastic staff starting with the guidence department listing kids who would need someone to come with (ei. no dad or devorced) and assigning staff members to attend with these children and we do not charge for these kids as it would be the staff paying for it. It works out great. Also having run these events for three years now I see many many Uncles, family friends, Grandpa's and coaches at these events all you have to do is ask people like this are generally very giving and would love to help a kid out!

I can understand those that are uncomfortable about gender specific events at school. I'm an open minded person...however...Tim makes a valid point in that there are those children whose parents simply don't want to get involved. Does that mean that we shouldn't do anything with the parent group EVER at the school? Those children might feel bad! Sometimes, not everyone can attend every event. That doesn't mean that the event shouldn't be hosted. Instead of having a problem with the Donuts with Dads or other event that you think your child would feel bad attending, why not CREATE an event that your child (and other children) would benefit from? Why not have an event for the children of divorced parents...that way he'd have something to feel a part of! That's just the type of person that I am...and from your spunk, I have the feeling that you're the same type of Mom. It is our job as parents to teach tolerance to our children When life hands you lemons, make a lemon meringue pie!

Maybe it is YOU who is looking at life through rose colored glasses and are forgetting we are supposed to be doing things which are in the best interest of ALL the students and not just our own?

Let's suffice it to say that in my four years as a president and another year as secretary, we ALWAYS did things in the best interest of ALL the children not just a few.....and yes I have had a divorced mom on my board...

Pam Im otay now!!!

Soccermomto4kids-

And if you look even harder, you might even find some good.

Excellent advice for everyone!

I believe that many schools no longer celebrate Halloween, but have replaced it with a type of Fall Festival. We don't call our winter party a Christmas or Hanukah party, but it is a Holiday party and all cultures are celebrated.

I make an extreme point here so that maybe it will make more of an impact, but.....I'm sure you wouldn't have appreciated living in the days before women had the right to vote and heard over and over to "Just get over it, that's the way it is and that's the way we like it!"
Just because the majority of people agree with a position, does not make it the "Best" decision.

If you were insinuating that I may be one of those people that contribute to 99 percent of the complaining, that couldn't be further from the truth. If I happen to disagree with someone or our PTO, I try to suggest an alternative solution. I put my trust in the democracy of the PTO and live with the results.

This is the only board that I am on that has an overwhelming majority of women on it, and it is intersting to see the difference in how some women handle disagreements verses the responses of how men handle disagreements. Just an observation........ [img]smile.gif[/img]

No not at all bitter - I just don't mind voicing my apposing point of view. I would never succomb to tactics that would be spiteful..not sure why you would think that, as my character is above that.

Thanks for sharing your experience with how your school handles the Donuts with Dads, JHB.

[ 12-19-2004, 07:58 PM: Message edited by: Pearlie ]