Single Working Moms: The School Department Is Watching You

Single Working Moms: The School Department Is Watching You

As much as I'd like to shirk my parental responsibilities sometimes, I know that I can't. But I have to tell you that single parenting is for the birds. It's a tough row to hoe as they would say, and sometimes you need a break.

But how can you have a break when there is simply no break in sight? Let them stay home from school. That's right; let them stay home from school.  Not because they're sick, and not because it's a snow day...just...because.

I work full time; it's a luxury to rise out of my bed at 6:00 am and tip-toe into each room to whisper to my son and my daughter, "It's okay. You can sleep in.  I'm not going to make you go to school today."

The smiles, the heartfelt thank yous — pure bliss, I tell you, not to mention the joy of only being responsible for my getting a shower and getting dressed and ready for another day at work.  It's a mini-vacation of sorts.

But beware. Most states have a strict reinforcement policy for "slackers," a.k.a. single working moms. If a child has 10 unexcused (excuse me) absences, the parent is going to get the call. By "unexcused" they mean absences when your child was sick at home with a virus or a fever or a cold and you did not take him/her to the doctor to have that doctor write on a piece of paper that the child was sick.

So, if you do the math, your child can miss school for $150 and be excused or your child can stay home and recover for the price of a nasty phone call.

Say what? In fact, the truancy officer(s) will contact you and threaten to take you to court if you don't make sure your son or daughter is in class everyday every week from now until the end of the school year.

Are you, like me, thinking Gestapo? My children are in the sixth and seventh grades.

When I was growing up, my parents took me out of school for two weeks for a Disney vacation, and these people are trying to tell me that I am a neglectful, law-breaking citizen for allowing my child to stay home a few days? Hey, you get five paid sick days or more per year at your job. Paid.

Yet, if you allow your child to miss more than 10 days without a doctor's excuse, you're bordering on criminal behavior?!
Somebody stop the madness.

Naturally, I do understand that they are trying to make sure that children are not being neglected by their parents, but it's a little intense, don't you think? Or do you?

Should our public education system be aloud to tell us that our children can miss only so many days per year, regardless? Is it right for schools to demand a doctor's excuse in order for the excuse to be considered legitimate? 

It just feels too controlling to me.

And sometimes I need a vacation, a morning to lounge and watch Good Morning America as I sip my coffee with sugar and real cream. Sometimes I need to take care of only me, but I don't want to be arrested for it.