Welcome to classroom politics

By Maria Bailey

I know Emily Post advises against talking about religion or politics, but I'd like to ask for a special dispensation today. You see, my children started real school this year. You might wonder, what's the difference between real school and unreal school? Real school in contrast to kindergarten is when you must be in your desk at the same time each day and mommy can't come traipsing in whenever she gets the urge.

I experienced the first day of school depression that I think all mothers go through as we watch our babies march down the hall with backpacks in tow. I fought off tears as I kissed each of them goodbye and left them in their over-sized desks with their little legs barely touching the floor in front to them. It was definitely a day to remember. A day that I believe was far more traumatic for me than them.

Beneath my sadness I was excited about all the wonderful things they would be soon learning; parts of their body, spelling words and the names of the 50 capitols.

A political showground
As I left the first classroom, I overheard some of the mothers discussing upcoming class activities and homeroom mothers. It's great that some of these moms have time to think ahead. I also thought it would be good for me since these moms can keep me posted on what needs to be done in my children's classroom. As I left the second classroom, I heard similar conversations only this time it was a discussion about who wanted to volunteer to be homeroom mom. Wow, I thought, I hope with a full time job, I can be as active as I perceived was required at this new school. I continued my drop off routine now heading for my final stop in the kindergarten room. As I entered the third classroom, a neighbor welcomed us to the school and reassured me that my son would love his new teacher. After all, she was the teacher that every mother hoped her child was assigned to for kindergarten. I apparently had gotten into the "in" class.

The conversation quickly turned to which school event I should volunteer for. Apparently there was also "in" volunteer project as well. At this point, I realized it wasn't just my children who had a lot to learn in their new school. I politely smiled, said I would gladly volunteer anywhere that I was needed and departed for the parking lot. Along the way, I passed several groups of moms gathered on the sidewalk comparing teachers, summer vacations and after school activities. Few were dressed in suits. Few had on a full face of makeup and even fewer looked like they were rushing to an office for a full day of work.

What everyone had in common was the need to give their input on who would be homeroom mom. It was then that I discovered a new form of politics that I never knew existed. Let's just call it, "classroom politics." As a working mother, you know of office politics. As a mother and wife, you know of family politics. But now, as a mother of school age children, you must experience classroom politics. The good news for working mothers is that the skills that you've learned at the office will be quite beneficial with classroom politics. Use your negotiation talents to find projects that fit into your busy schedule or managerial skills to funnel the enthusiasm of your homeroom mother into tasks you can accomplish between budgeting meetings.

Personally, I want to be involved in my children's education. I intend to volunteer for homeroom parties, school carnivals and raffle ticket sales. I will bake cookies in the evening and decorate bulletin boards on the weekend. However, I also realize I'll never be homeroom mom. I'll have to juggle my involvement with my professional career. It's part of the choices I've made. You see, a long time ago I made the decision to go into business and not politics.

Also see:
• Week Six -- Parenting mistakes
• Week Five -- What are we really saying?
• Week Four -- The courage to take risks
• Week Three -- The business trip
• Week Two -- Reflections of motherhood
• Week One -- A trip to the grocery store

Maria Bailey is the CEO and founder of BlueSuitMom.com and a mother of four children under the age of seven.