To think that 6pm on a weekday is an anti-social time for a meeting?

[Sadik]

Genuine question - is it just an awkward time for me (just in from work, need to make dinner, etc) or would others find it tricky.

There was a bit of 'why don't younger people (read, not retired) get involved', my feeling is that the habit which seems common in our small town of arranging meetings at 6pm doesn't help. But is that just me?

[Sadik]

Agree you can't win.

Anyway, we may have a partial solution in that the primary school HT has suggested a get together as school finishes (the committee is supporting a town resource used mostly by retired people and children, realistically) so maybe we'll pick up some PT/SAH parents.

[GinandJag]

You can't please everybody all of the time.

[DisappointedOne]

(It's been specifically requested to have meetings in the evenings by the parents of young school children.)

[DisappointedOne]

I've just organised such a meeting because people complained that meetings at 3:30pm clashed with work.

#cantwin

[JohnCusacksWife]

6 is perhaps a little early but 8 is way too late. No way would I be going out to something at that time as (a) id probably be in my jammies and (b) it encroaches on your whole evening.

7pm is a pretty good time for meetings....dinner over but still early enough that I can have some of the evening left for me once the meeting's over.

[Panickingalot]

Yanbu. For me 6pm is just home from work or at the moment, having dinner and starting bedtime routine for baby.

[WhispersOfWickedness]

I'm a SAHM and 6pm would be a PITA for me too as I have children too young to drag out in the evening, so I have to wait until at least 6.15 for DH to get home from work.

[thegreysheep]

A committee I sit on meets 7-9pm, maybe a 7 to 7.30 start might be better as 8pm might be too late - too much time to get settled in at home?

[Enjolrass]

For anyone with school age kids (whether or not they are working), 6pm is a nightmare.

Not for me. I work and have 2 school age kids.

Homework is done as soon as we get in. Tea at 5pm. Out of the door at 5.45 as dh walks in.

All the adults at my class have kids.

[BarbarianMum]

Impossible for most parents of young children, I mean. Not just me.

[cleaty]

No squeaver, a few are single mums who just take their 8,9 year old children to the meeting. They all say later would be harder for them. 6pm is a terrible time for me.

[Gubbins]

All my volunteering meeting and social stuff starts at 8pm, which is perfect for me. As others have said, it's after almost all of the kids activities are over, I've had time to feed them, and DH is back from work so no need to find a sitter or someone to dump them with. And it means the childfree have time to get back from work, grab a bite to eat and head out again.

If they are questioning why they don't have more younger people getting involved, I'd definitely point out that it's not going to work for a lot of parents or anyone who works in the type of job where leaving at five is a rare luxury.

[BarbarianMum]

6pm would totally rule me out. I collect the kids at 5.30pm and dh isn't home til 7.30pm. The meetings I attend (and have been invited to attend) all start at 7.30pm - but all are child related (PTA, preschool, cubs) so I guess they know that 6pm is impossible.

[Sadik]

ArcheryAnnie - the one other person who I know would most likely come is a single parent so has to do childminder pickup / tea / homework etc. She's far more likely to come to a meeting a bit later.

Agree GiveMeStrength, I think 8pm is a reasonable time for most ages of kids, in fact back in my primary PTA/playgroup committee days it was always 8 or 8.30 and in the pub so we could have a as well

[squeaver]

cleaty - I'm so surprised by that. Presumably they all have OHs or other people who can deal with the kids.

[ArcheryAnnie]

If you are a single parent then 6 pm is the worst possible time: too late to have your kid(s) go for tea after school with a friend, and too early to get a babysitter.

[Notso]

6 is a rubbish time for me. DH is rarely in at 6 so if I can't take the DC then I'd end up not going.

[G1veMeStrength]

I'd find 8pm best.

Easier to get back from work, if you have a daytime job.

Easier to get a partner/babysitter/friend to cover an hour or two of childcare at 8pm than 6pm if you have small children.

Easier to fit around clubs if you have medium age children.

[ginmakesitallok]

Oh and all the community reps are retired, so could do any time in theory, but they won't change the time.

[ginmakesitallok]

I've got a regular meeting which starts at 6, to make it easier for community reps to go. Pain in the bloody arse for me though!

[cleaty]

Yes I can't make meetings at 6pm, but can make 7pm at a pinch. But a meeting I would like to go to that starts at 6pm, has lots of women with DCs going. They all say 6pm suits them.

[squeaver]

For anyone with school age kids (whether or not they are working), 6pm is a nightmare.

Our PTA always has its meetings starting at 8pm on the basis that small kids are already in bed, bigger ones are on the way to bed and other parent is home from work by then.

[RatherBeRiding]

My (hobby) club committee have meetings at 7.00 or 7.30, aiming to be over by 9.30 which suits me fine. Time to get home, feed horses etc and off again. Any later would be a massive no-no as I need to be up early and need to get meetings out of the way in good time.

[OneFlewOverTheDodosNest]

I've had similar issues OP - my commute is at least 45 minutes, usually over an hour and it's difficult to leave the office at 5pm as I'm usually waiting for meetings to end to have final day catch ups even if I don't have loads on.

It excludes me from going to a lot of things I'd like to unfortunately.

[Gladysandtheflathamsandwich]

No 6pm is mayhem at home. Getting in, kids doing homework, me doing dinner and fielding calls from one particular client who thinks that the contract stating I am only contactable between 9 & 5 doesnt apply to him, DH coming home from work....

8pm would be perfect for me but clearly we are in the minority.

My retired mum complained that none of the younger members of her church got involved with the church council until I pointed out that the 6:30 meeting times would be problematic if you dont get in until 6, have kids that need feeding, bathing etc. She did see my point and suggested putting the meetings back by an hour or more so parents could attend.....the rest of the (retired) council nixed it because it suited them at that time. They still complain that the non retired churcher goers "dont make the effort" and mum still points out that unless they get more accessible about meeting times, they will never get better attendance.