Ok, I am probably going to get flamed, but I would like to ask a question...

[InkyStamp]

Ok

A lot of the time I see people say they dont have time to help their child with out of school hours child related things.

I understand people have full time jobs, more than on child etc.

However, and I ask this in a genuine way, not a judgemental way, is it a question of priorities?

Yes, we need to have dinner on the table and they may need bathing etc. But surely, a childs project and or homework and or activity (not scouts or ballet) but something they need for class should take precedence over, say, the ironing or washing the floor?

Surely there is time for doing that after they are in bed? Yes, it is tiring and really, who can be arsed to do the floors at 11pm, but isnt school work more important?

Yes, we need to keep the house clean and livable. I understand that.

But I would rather devote the time to doing school stuff with/for my child and then do housework afterwards/on the weekend. I think it is important to take an active and enthusiastic role in my childs education. (not saying that anyone doesnt, I am just explaining my thinking)

So, I am asking, I suppose, what it is that means you dont have time? (genuine question)

I understand that there is a debate about whether school should send stuff home. But weather you like it or not, they do. This question is not to debate that - we all have various thoughts on that issue that have been debated over and over on here.

My thinking is that for people who work full time, it genuinely IS a case of not having time. Get home at 6 or later, feed the kids, bath then it is their bedtime. Then I understand, I honestly do. That would be hard!

My question is for the people who dont work? Or who work school hours?

Sorry I cant really word my question very well, but hopefully people see that I am not meaning to be judgemental, and that I am genuinely interested. I am not setting out to start an argument or offend anyone or bash any particular group of people. Sorry!

Good Lord - of course I do other things while looking after my children. And of course they don't sit and watch me They play with toys or do music practice or draw or read or watch telly . These are school age children - they have their own things that they like to do surely?!

I feel a bit shitty now as well. I have 4 dc and two stepdaughters, a part time job and dp works full time

I really really struggle to get the kids to do thier homwork and sometimes quite often I don't do it. Thier reading books haven't gone back for weeks and god only knows where thier other homework is.

ds has adhd, dp has aspergers and sometimes I just feel like screaming I have that much on. Homework is just not a priority.

Luckily the 3 schoolies are doing very well in school and ds goes to homework club (he's 11) so all is not lost.

MumNWLondon - just seen your comment. Are you joking or for real?

Do you honestly never fold clothes, unload dishwasher, cook dinner whilst your children play? How strange!

I'm also intrigued MumNWLondon - what do you do when looking after school-age children, sit there and watch them play?

Some people like doing this stuff and others just don't.

My mum for example is absolutely useless at playing with the kids... Mind you, I don't remember her playing with us as kids either - she was always doing the housework. She really loves spending time with them tho. They do constructive stuff like baking cakes and going to the garden centre.

For the people who do like making sheep out of cotton wool and a toilet roll, great stuff! But force my mother into doing it and the children will have the most miserable time.

Play to your strengths!

When you have 2 DC's in school and a full time job you will find out for yourself why parents sometimes do no not have time to sit with DC's to complete homework at the given time.

I am dreading the whole homework thing when dd goes to school next Sept, speically as she is a young August baby... I mean how would we fitit in:

We get home around 6.30 after work/nursery, have a snack, cuddles and stories then up to bed VERY TIRED! Where in that do you do homewokr? (At nursery after school?)

It is TOTALLY a question of priorities. I value dinner, cuddles and getting to bed on time way above school stuff.. I'm a teacher too....

Homework is for children, not for adults. I loved the Y4 teacher who started her meet and greet session by saying "I do not give projects to be done at home, that is what school if for. I am not impressed by the model YOU have made and I am not stupid enough to think that the brilliant story your child has just handed in is all her own work when she struggles to write half a page at school".

If your child genuinely needs help (as my 2 dyslexic kids have done over the years) of course you prioritise it but people who expect a medal for devoting every afternoon to "helping their children with their homework" unnecessarily make me yawn.