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[lotsoquestions]

I occasionally volunteered at the sign-in desk at my kid's elementary school and was AMAZED at the number of kids who showed up late on MOndays since they had travelled for a sporting event over the weekend and got home late.  Probably thirty kids every Monday, and usually the SAME thirty kids.  I'm assuming that as the kids get older, the missed school gets worse and not better.  I was also amazed at how most teachers and principals had given up even fighting this battle anymore.  They just knew that the parent's priorities were on their kid's sports and that there was no way they were ever going to change that.  (OTOH, I just found out that there was such a thing as a "private cheerleading coach" -- who knew?)

[macaroon]

I occasionally volunteered at the sign-in desk at my kid's elementary school and was AMAZED at the number of kids who showed up late on MOndays since they had travelled for a sporting event over the weekend and got home late. 

That's impressive.  I've had my kids out late on school nights occasionally for something worthwhile - like a concert or something.  I'll give them a half-cup of coffee with breakfast and say, "Suck it up, buttercup."  Then an early bedtime the next night.  And my kids are 4 and 7. 

[collegekidsmom]

I always thought that if the teacher was in the classroom ready to teach that my kids could be there on time. There is a big difference between negotiating for a rare family trip, and showing up late most days. The problem with just walking in late in the middle of lessons is that the kids might think that that behavior is OK out in the real world. Better to learn to get ready and be there on time. Employers will be more apt to retain you later. I think being prepared and punctual is a good life lesson for kids. The trip thing is a different issue entirely.

I took a school bus to school. If you weren't on time for that bus, it drove away. Then you REALLY didn't want to go back home.

[rowan1]

I took a school bus to school. If you weren't on time for that bus, it drove away. Then you REALLY didn't want to go back home.

No doubt about that - grew up on a farm - bus stop was a mile away - the rare occassions we missed it were not happy days!

[collegekidsmom]

Most memorable was the day that Dad said he would just drive those of us who missed the bus. Had a bathrobe on, hair sticking up. Pulled up right in front of the middle school main door while the other kids watched. You do not want to drive to school with a dad in his old bathrobe. Mortifying.
Another time I walked and took me forever, like two hours- and I was so late that the high school made me do the whole drug and alcohol testing-that was the policy for those who wandered in that late for no reason.

[rowan1]

The only day we got away with it was the day the dogs followed us as we took the short cut on the frozen canal.  dogs fell through the ice, we went in after them, carried them home - mom actually warmed the dogs up before she got to us - no one went to school that day.

However, we were seriously busted for walking along the frozen canal (go figure) and had to go the long way for the rest of the winter.