Dreading a Meeting, but It's the Last One!

Children do not need to be at formal meetings such as board meetings. That is absurd.

Can you drop your child at Grandma's at the start, rather than taking a break partway through to take her there? Why isn't it an option to just have her at Grandma's the whole time? That also allows you to say at a certain point: "Oops, it's 8:30, I have to pick up my daughter now because her sitter has a very firm pickup time..."

It seems odd to me that a mother's group has meetings that include kids and that go on for hours! Shouldn't a group of moms know very well that young kids don't belong in these meetings? You also would all get a lot more done, a lot faster, if there were not kids there distracting their moms' attention! At the least, the group should provide a babysittter (it can be someone's niece or nephew, doesn't have to be a formal thing) and activities if there are young kids at these meetings. I think it's kind of nuts to have business meetings knowing that young kids must be in tow. This is why there are weekends -- the dads or other relatives should be with the kids while these board members meet like grown-ups and without any kids present, on a Saturday or Sunday. The meetings would be much shorter and more focused and everyone would have a great incentive for keeping things brief: It's the weekend.

But....you're out of there, good for you! No more board or positions for now. Have a great time finishing your academic work. You have been very conscientious about this moms' group but you are right to let it go except as a member.

Well, congratualtions on the LAST one. I know you feel relief.

As for training the next board, we never got training and never really "trained" the next board. Our transitions never lasted more than an hour. We basically decribed what our position was, what we did, etc. We did have an accountant present to verify the books but I don't think it was required. We just made sure the new board knew everything was on the up and up.

We did not have children present in our meetings.

Do any of the moms have an older child (early teen maybe) who might make a couple extra bucks for watching the children in another area?

Best wishes to you!

All I can think of is that these moms must have a lot of times on their hands if they can sit in a 2-3 hour meeting with such little ones.

"ain't nobody got time for that...." (please go watch it on youtube)

Here's what you say at meeting, upon commencement....."Let's stay on track here" or "Let's keep the nitty-gritty details for a later meeting, and stick to just the agenda items, because I've got to be out of here by _______...(fill in the blank with a time and place)"

GL!

Is it day or evening?
Our school parent's club always held evening meetings, from 6:00 to 7:30 (to accommodate working parents) and they made sure it ended on time. There is absolutely NO reason a community meeting should go on any longer than that, especially one made up of parents of young children. Someone needs to step up and show some efficiency and leadership! There should be an agenda, with time allotted for each section and order of business. I'm sure EVERYONE would agree to that, right?
Our parent's club also recruited teenagers to come in and supervise and read stories to any toddlers in tow (teenagers around here look for these kinds of community service opportunities because it looks good on their college apps.) Same thing with my monthly Girl Scout leader meetings, we went strictly from 7:30 to 9:00, and older kids were available to watch younger ones, though most of the younger ones stayed home with dad at that late hour.
A three or four hour meeting is INSANE, training or not!

At our board meetings, we have a babysitter or two. The kids don't attend the meetings.

When you get there, tell them you HAVE to leave at X-o'clock. Then do your bit and go.

I've been on the PTA board. We rarely had children at our board meetings which generally lasted 1-2 hours. If there was a child, it was just one and they played quietly with toys brought by the mom. I think this may have happened just once.

We did meet in homes and it seems that there may have been children but if so they played in another room. Now, I do remember one meeting during which a preschool child came out for a hug and then left again and as we were leaving more children came out. They were all settled before I arrived.

Perhaps you could hire someone to stay with the children while you have your meeting. My granddaughter's school emphasizes community service and I've heard of students doing things during school hours.

LOL! ES, I have NEVER been in a board meeting with children. Ever. I can't imagine what your meetings with kids are like! I'm so sorry for you!! My board meetings have never lasted longer than 3 hours, by the way...

Oh, and good luck at your final meeting!!

We do our PTA meetings once month at lunch, the next month at night. That way it gives different parents opportunities to attend. We email the agenda the week of the meeting so people can decide if they want to attend. We then send the minutes out after the meeting,

We start on time. People learn very quickly to be there on time. We do not wait for stragglers.

We stick to the agenda and really try very hard to stick to 1 hour. It is not fair to expect people to stay for more than that.. If there is an issue that may take longer. we send out the topic ahead of times and people can ask questions prior.

BUT I did sit on a different type of school group that had a lot more responsibilities and issues. We were like the Board of Directors of the school. We were told these meetings would last 2 hours each time.

Then when I sat on a City wide school Bond committee.. I knew that it would last at least a year. We met every week, it did sometimes take 3 to 4 hours. It ended up being 3 years.. the second year once a month.. the last year every few months. I learned so much.. It was totally worth my time.

My son would not attend any formal thing exceot church until he was about 5 years old.