It Takes a Village - So Why Does it Bother Me?

I truly believe that it takes a village to raise a child.  I guess lately I've started realizing who that village would include.  I assumed it meant people that I chose to include in my child's life; my spouse, his family, my family and our close friends that spend time with our child.  I would hope that if my darling daughter was doing something inappropriate, someone would speak up and remind her of her manners or a safety issue.  However, the village is larger than that.

1.  The store attendants at the plaza down the street.  When we rent videos or get something from the store, they see her, know she belongs to me have seen her grow up.  I hope that when she becomes a troublesome teen hanging out on the corner that someone else is looking out for her, or at least ready to tattle to me over the morning newspaper pick-up that she's hanging out with a new boy.

2.  Parents of her friends.  She is at the age of attending playdates without me, so therefore susceptible to what is permitted in their house, their attitudes and behaviours.

3.  Daycare workers.  This is a team of people I could not live without as a working mom.  Darling daughter has been in daycare since she turned one year and I returned to work.  I do not take credit for potty training, teaching her sign language or her saying grace when she eats.  Whenever I've been presented with a parenting dilemma, I can get advise based on real experience, not just what worked for their kid.  Plus, sometimes I get lunch leftovers if I need a fast dinner option. 

4.  Teachers and school staff.  I think the extent of this one is just dawning on me.  Obviously my child is in school for the standard hours, learning content that the government feels appropriate.  What bothers me, is the extra stuff.  Dance-a-thon, skip-a-thon, don't eat for a day, etc.  All types of assemblies showing support for various types of causes.  Some days I'm grateful, these are all teachable moments, exposing my child to various types of issues.  Other days, I wish they would just focus on what I feel their job is, which is to teach her to read and write.

Today we are trying to catch up on her book log.  After reading a book, she's supposed to write the title in her log.  Every 5th book, she's supposed to draw a picture of part of a story and write about why likes it and some other stuff.  I hate this.  She hates this.  So we get behind.  Then I start to wonder, if they would just cut down on 'movie days' and all this extra stuff, the teacher would have more time to, well, teach.  Then I could have more quality time with my child than time-outs.

The next part that I have issues with is being made to feel that I'm being tested by the teachers/school.  This week we have to fill out how much 'screen time' our child has each day and what activities to try instead of watching tv or playing on the computer.  This got my back up.  Who are you to tell me how to parent?  I don't come to the school and tell you how to spend your time with my child, though that would be great (read above, no more fun stuff - I want that for me).   I already self monitor her screen time, so I agree with the documentation.  But does it need to come from the school?

If you agree that it takes a village to raise a child, than I guess it does.  I suppose I need to get used to this new group of unknown's that are a part of my child's life.  I don't know these faceless people.  I know her immediate teachers of course, but it's bigger than that.  There are people that supervise her at recess, at lunch, when a teacher calls in sick, the librarian, the office staff, gym staff, custodians and of course the school board itself where most of these newsletters must come from.

So this week, I'll have to be vigilant on spending real quality time with darling daughter lest one of these faceless bureaucrats is judging me...