Parents who never ask other parents for favours?

[80caloriesofbiscuitplease]

Like how do they do it?
As I'm sure a lot of you are aware, most primary schools have a primary school WhatsApp group. 90% of the chat is 'I'm going to be late' 'is anyone able to pick up Destiny on Wednesday?' 'Help I didn't know there was an inset day!'
There are about four regular mums who constantly ask these kind of things (of which I might be one )
The rest stay silent on the matters (as in they don't offer or ask) what I want to know is how the duck do they manage it?
How can you never be late, or struggle to pick up your child or cover the endless holidays? How can you never forget the date of homework's or the theme of dressing up day or the name of the TA? How can you consistently just keep all of this knowledge inside and be fulfilled and busy and well off and yet be at the school gate at five past ducking three every single day? To never look sweaty or harassed or answer emails in the park? To always have snacks that are well packed and nutritious?
How how how???

[quote 80caloriesofbiscuitplease]What are these magical careers where you have to use your exceptional organisation skills and yet they're happy for you to skip out the door at 2.30?[/quote]
Director of Information Security

I do drop off and pick up, then DD will entertain herself for an hour, I take a break to spend some time with her, get dinner on, sort out homework, eat, do bedtime etc then go back to work in the evening at my desk in the living room.

I don't work

what a strange post OP
Just because someone is not broadcasting it on a class WhatsApp doesn’t mean they don’t have the odd issue.
If I’m ever late from work, am lucky enough now to have a dh wfh who could step in, or id just message my sister or friend at the school, or phone the school, or on work days dc would be going to childminder/after school club.
Dates for special days, just write them in the calendar when they come through.
If I want to check something I’d normally just message one friend not a whole group.

I’ve been let down before when people have insisted on offering me stuff or wanted to do me favours, or peol have agreed and then let me down instead of just saying no, so now I never ask for anything. We use after school club etc

@Gazelda but thats not what people are saying, they are replying 'I'm better than you which is why I'm never late'

[quote 80caloriesofbiscuitplease]What are these magical careers where you have to use your exceptional organisation skills and yet they're happy for you to skip out the door at 2.30?[/quote]
Part time, flexible working, starting dreadfully early, work in the evening. This is what we as a society should be pushing for really. If more organisations offered this it would increase diversity.

[quote 80caloriesofbiscuitplease]@EmeraldShamrock I feel sorry for you, that's a very bitter way to look at the world. People are great. You should trust them more.[/quote]

Also what is this WhatsApp group, I'm not part of it ahaha

@loubylou1010

I don't ask anyone from school for a favour because I don't want to owe anyone a favour.

See I'm the opposite. I am really happy to help other people out because I know there will be a time I need a favour, just due to having three kids, three jobs and a million extra curricular activities to juggle.

When a new family with a child in my son's class (and two younger ones) moved onto our street I immediately offered to help her out if she ever needed her child collecting etc. It's no skin off my nose and means I don't feel guilty if I ask a favour back. We're now good friends. Three of us who live on the same street regularly help each other out. It's fairly even though I am usually the one who knows about school events (I know how to search my emails, and tend to put every event immediately into my phone so I don't forget it.

I wouldn’t feel right asking for favours of people I didn’t know, I’m not friendly with the other mums, If I was running late I would ask my mum to pick up (I’m a lone parent )

But what if you're running out the office and you're stopped by someone Tell them you need to do the school pick up and you'll chat to them tomorrow?
What about the rubbish truck that blocks the whole bloody road at ten to three Call the school and tell them you are so sorry but you are running a bit late due to the above?
The fire alarm that goes off and leaves you trapped in the car park at work when your car keys are in your coat pocket by your desk How often does this happen?

@80caloriesofbiscuitplease

But what if you're running out the office and you're stopped by someone? What about the rubbish truck that blocks the whole bloody road at ten to three? The fire alarm that goes off and leaves you trapped in the car park at work when your car keys are in your coat pocket by your desk? Do these things never happen to you all?

You allow for those things. Get your coat on five mins before you actually have to so if someone does catch you you're able to say 'Great question Chaz, if you look in the blue filing cabinet under 'minutes' you'll find the report you need filed there.' Smile and go.

Seriously if 26 people manage it, and you're one of the 4 that doesn't, you're the problem.

[quote 80caloriesofbiscuitplease]What are these magical careers where you have to use your exceptional organisation skills and yet they're happy for you to skip out the door at 2.30?[/quote]
I run my own business as a dog walker/pet-sitter and set my hours around my personal life. I turn down clients/walks if I don't want to work at the particularly time or if it will clash with an appointment.

We had only one child, we read the notes when they come in and put things in a joint Google calendar. We generally hand letters signed back to school the next day just to get them done in case they are forgotten. We both work full time, and are organised for work, it's not too difficult because it's just natural now.

@Eyjafjallajokulldottir

If you're repeatedly finding it too difficult to pick up your kids on time youneed to get your shit together. It's really not hard. Or hire a nanny.

This.

[quote 80caloriesofbiscuitplease]@EmeraldShamrock I feel sorry for you, that's a very bitter way to look at the world. People are great. You should trust them more.[/quote]
How rude.

[quote 80caloriesofbiscuitplease]What are these magical careers where you have to use your exceptional organisation skills and yet they're happy for you to skip out the door at 2.30?[/quote]
I work for an IT company and me and the men on my team all had primary she children at the same time.

We were also able to work from home unless needed in office for some reason.

We all just put school run/ class assembly/ kids dentist etc in our diary so it was clear where we were.

It's the norm across the company in other trans as well.

Eg ping someone and they say just going for school run, I'll be back in 30 or whatever.

As long as work gets done it's fine.

My job is 85% men.

I think if lots of men want it then it just happens tbh.

I hate relying on other people, I very, very rarely ask for favours!

[quote 80caloriesofbiscuitplease]@EmeraldShamrock I feel sorry for you, that's a very bitter way to look at the world. People are great. You should trust them more.[/quote]
that's quite nasty.

OP I don't understand why you think that as people aren't asking on the big watsapp group that means never getting help because lots of people don't really like those groups.

I never ask for help. I am always asked for help though! All the bloody time. I have a job.
Not sure why I don’t ask for help 🤷🏻‍♀️. I’m quite organised and put everything in my calendar. DH works from home so if I’m struggling to get to pick up (not often) he can usually rearrange his diary and get out. We use after school club.

Similarly when my kids start a new extra curricular activity I check out if there is anyone who I slightly know or who lives near me, and offer to help them out, really so I can ask them for help on occasion too. Or we can set up a one takes, the other collects arrangement.

Some people on here sound pretty judgey-"get your sh*t together"? Really? I think we just have to accept that some people have different skill sets - not always including time management/organisational skills. When I had kids in primary, I helped others when I could and gratefully accepted help when I needed it.

[quote 80caloriesofbiscuitplease]@Gazelda but thats not what people are saying, they are replying 'I'm better than you which is why I'm never late'[/quote]
No, they're saying that they're organised. That isn't the same as saying they're better than you.

A solid routine and google calender reminders that are input the second I get the school email.