What I hate about Fall
I guess “hate” is a harsh word so let’s just say that there are a few things about the fall I dislike. They have to do with school so let’s just get to them.
1. School fund raisers.
Why do we have to do this year after year? If you have children in school then you can feel my pain. It makes no sense at all. Originally these sales were not designed to raise money as much as they were to instill school spirit. When I was young, we were handed boxes of candy and told to go sell them to make money for the school. I can remember taking my big box of katydids and lugging it door to door and listening to one excuse after another but finally selling them all and feeling good about what I accomplished. These days door to door sales are forbidden so what’s the point? Our children bring home catalogs of overpriced stuff and we parents either drag it into work, and force our subordinates to buy it or we hound our relatives until they cave in. The children have nothing to do with it at all other than bringing the paperwork back and forth. In the end they win some cheap prize like a squirt gun or a yo-yo. That is if they sell hundreds of items which isn’t going to happen in our house.
I am thinking of hiring a lawyer and getting a restraining order out against the school system. "Here take this 50.00 but leave me alone." After paying for these items they can't make that much anyway.
2. School projects.
Before I complain, I have to brag a little and say that I have never gotten below a high B on any of my children’s school projects. That’s right I said it. “I” got all A’s and B’s on my children’s school projects. Now when my oldest son was doing his first project, I thought it was still like it was when we were kids and I let him do the entire project. He did a great job too. The project was to make something dealing with the space program so he made a rocket. He used a shoe box and a paper towel roll and some other cardboard and glued it all together and made a launch pad and a rocket. It looked like he actually did it and I was very proud of him. A few days later we were at school and I saw the projects that “his classmates” did. One particular rocket stood three feet high and had working parts and was made to exact scale. I thought “wow, now that is a talented 1st grader.” I am sure the only part the child did in making that project was to keep quiet while his father was working.
So long story short, I still make my children do their own projects but I make sure they stay on track and that they look professional. You know, like something a child would make.
3. School special nights.
I do enjoy going into school and seeing what my boys are working on but for some reason they always give a lot of homework on those nights. We have been working on a big Egyptian project and tonight it will be on display. I get home at 4 and the school meeting starts at 5 which means that I have just enough time to wolf down dinner and then head out to the meeting. I imagine it will last a little longer than an hour and it will be around 7 when we get back home. Then we have to get homework done, pack the book bags for the next day, shower and get to bed.
This project was a little different too than ones I have previously seen. Along with having to write a story about king Tut and making some props, my son had to write a rap song. With my help, we completed the project and even though I am not a big rap fan I want to see my son perform this masterpiece. He is such a ham I know he did a great job on it. We did it to the music from “All summer long” by Kidd Rock. Maybe I can post a copy of that at a later date.
So that is why I dislike Fall. I am however enjoying this cooler weather. Maybe heading to the mountains to see the leaves change will brighten my spirits. This is a photo I took last year up in the mountains of NC.
Have a great day,
Greg
1. School fund raisers.
Why do we have to do this year after year? If you have children in school then you can feel my pain. It makes no sense at all. Originally these sales were not designed to raise money as much as they were to instill school spirit. When I was young, we were handed boxes of candy and told to go sell them to make money for the school. I can remember taking my big box of katydids and lugging it door to door and listening to one excuse after another but finally selling them all and feeling good about what I accomplished. These days door to door sales are forbidden so what’s the point? Our children bring home catalogs of overpriced stuff and we parents either drag it into work, and force our subordinates to buy it or we hound our relatives until they cave in. The children have nothing to do with it at all other than bringing the paperwork back and forth. In the end they win some cheap prize like a squirt gun or a yo-yo. That is if they sell hundreds of items which isn’t going to happen in our house.
I am thinking of hiring a lawyer and getting a restraining order out against the school system. "Here take this 50.00 but leave me alone." After paying for these items they can't make that much anyway.
2. School projects.
Before I complain, I have to brag a little and say that I have never gotten below a high B on any of my children’s school projects. That’s right I said it. “I” got all A’s and B’s on my children’s school projects. Now when my oldest son was doing his first project, I thought it was still like it was when we were kids and I let him do the entire project. He did a great job too. The project was to make something dealing with the space program so he made a rocket. He used a shoe box and a paper towel roll and some other cardboard and glued it all together and made a launch pad and a rocket. It looked like he actually did it and I was very proud of him. A few days later we were at school and I saw the projects that “his classmates” did. One particular rocket stood three feet high and had working parts and was made to exact scale. I thought “wow, now that is a talented 1st grader.” I am sure the only part the child did in making that project was to keep quiet while his father was working.
So long story short, I still make my children do their own projects but I make sure they stay on track and that they look professional. You know, like something a child would make.
3. School special nights.
I do enjoy going into school and seeing what my boys are working on but for some reason they always give a lot of homework on those nights. We have been working on a big Egyptian project and tonight it will be on display. I get home at 4 and the school meeting starts at 5 which means that I have just enough time to wolf down dinner and then head out to the meeting. I imagine it will last a little longer than an hour and it will be around 7 when we get back home. Then we have to get homework done, pack the book bags for the next day, shower and get to bed.
This project was a little different too than ones I have previously seen. Along with having to write a story about king Tut and making some props, my son had to write a rap song. With my help, we completed the project and even though I am not a big rap fan I want to see my son perform this masterpiece. He is such a ham I know he did a great job on it. We did it to the music from “All summer long” by Kidd Rock. Maybe I can post a copy of that at a later date.
So that is why I dislike Fall. I am however enjoying this cooler weather. Maybe heading to the mountains to see the leaves change will brighten my spirits. This is a photo I took last year up in the mountains of NC.
Have a great day,
Greg
Comments
I had my e-mail wrong on my site, it is a dot net and not dot com! I fixed it, but please e-mail me again, so I can talk about your blog!! Thanks, Patrice
As for fundraising - still right there with you!! The school wants us all pile in to a fast food restuarant the same night (a school night) where they get 10% of the sales. I figured out they'd get $10 out of me after the whole year!! (possibly $20). In the words of wise Greg - "Here take this $50 and leave me alone."
Sandi
School projects - check
Special School Nights - double check
Ok Greg, I love Fall, it's my absolute favorite season, but I didn't equate the school stuff that parents like you and I hide under the bed from. Thanks for making fall special for me ;-)
My kids are grown, yeah...
But all those things...you always write in such a way that we can all relate. That's why you're at the General Store.
As for "special" nights, I always wonder why those and many Jr. High sports events start so early that no one who works can possibly get there on time, let alone eat dinner first.
competition is fun, isn't it??!!
I agree with writing a check at the beginning of the year and being done with it...my child has to make her own money for trips, anyway.
I wonder where your son got his penchant for "hamming it up"...i bet you had fun pulling that together...i'm getting visions of Steve Martin doing KING TUT!
hope it goes well when he presents it.
enjoyed your post!!
Fundraisers and projects.... Lord, help us!!
I remember those projects that me and The Reverend helped our kids with. You are SO right about how much help we gave them to make sure their projects were terrific. We got good grades too, also, as well.
:-)
Our leaves are just now beginning to hint of autumn.
A few leaves have turned a deep wine color on some trees, but the real colors will be on display in about a month. I love it all so much since I spent most of my life in CA where there are not very definite season changes.
Several times when I would take the box of candy to work, four other employees had boxes too.
This too will pass...Greg...But in the mean time...do you want me to by a box of candy?
LOL:Wanda
The fall picture is beautiful. I don't see anything like that in this part of the country!
You're right though, the rest of autumn is wonnnnnnnnnderful! Great pic.
It is so refreshing to hear a parent admit to "helping" their children with school projects. I hated those, and fund raisers, with a passion. I still do. It never goes away, just turns into a phobia or something...