Or just over-protective??? Okay, so we went to our homeschool co-op today. This is only our 2nd time there, and we literally only know 1 other family that is part of this - out of about 20 families. (it meets every other week). While I'm in class one of the people who run it comes to me with a "Release of Liability" form to sign for field trips and just in case they leave the property with my children for gym class and the like. HUH???? I never even knew when I signed up that my kids would ever leave the property?? WHAT? now...the 3-5 year olds are in a class they call K-crowd - and the K-crowd is being taken to a local zoo next co-op. I'm sorry - I find out that they want to take my 3 year old on a FIELD TRIP to a ZOOOOO???? WITHOUT ME????? Am I crazy? I did work it out and I'm switching with one of the teachers so that I can go to the zoo with my 3 year old and the K-crowd. I have a friend who goes to the co-op too, and she'll take on the responisibility for my older two while i"m gone. But were they really serious? Yes. I did sign the form for my older two - thankfully my friend is one of the gym teachers and I said they are permitted in her car and her car only IF they ever leave the premises for ANY reason. Pretty much everyone thought I was the one with a screw loose b/c I didn't want to sign it and I didn't want my 3 year old going on a field trip without me. HUH? Okay....reality check here. AM I CRAZY???
No! You are not crazy. (At least not in regards to this issue... he he he) I don't think they would think twice about it, because it is so ingrained in our society to drop off 6 week old babies at day care... so they may call you over protective.... Anyone who calls me that in comparison to today's idea of loose parenting... THANKS!
Were they going to take her without your knowledge? I cannot imagine! I would be crazy about that. As far as the release of liability, that is a standard form and I am surprised they did not make you sign it for just being in co-op in case something happpened while your kids were in class (running, falling & chipping a tooth for example). Usually, they pertain to more than a singular fieldtrip. It is often required by insurance companies.
It would seem to me you'd be informed beforehand if there is a trip, right? They'd never just up and take off somewhere, right? When Jeannie and I joined a group not long ago, I signed a paper that covered all kinds of things. It covered what was expected of us, of them, and any other information to make membership go smoothly for both sides. They even carry an insurance policy for events and building use, like when they hold something in a church.
Well...in the initial planning meetings they never even mentioned that going off-campus was a possibility. And this form today was the first time I even heard that it was a possibility. I'm not against the form, I guess I was thrown for a loop that they'd leave the property with my kids. I am imagining that they'd HAVE to give us prior notice b/c PA law is strict on car seats - until 8 years old basically. Two of my kids are still in car seats. It was in our announcements today that the K-crowd kids were going on field trip to the Zoo (and it is pretty local - maybe 20 mins away at most), BUT, I still think that had I known about this I would have been able to react better and call them in private to talk to them about my concerns. The other thing that's getting me is that other parents see no issue with it at all! And I'm feeling singled out as a squeaky wheel. I'm ALL FOR signing the form for while we're on the campus.
If you're crazy then I'm crazy too because I would not let anyone take my 3-year old to the zoo without me! Partly because I don't trust strangers and also because I would want to share that experience with them!
I may understand an older kid going to the zoo without a parent... but a 3 year old?!?! No - I'm sorry at that age I don't THINK so. So no - you aren't nuts. And as a side note - that should have been disclosed. as something they do imho.
Elmwood Park Zoo - it's in Norristown/East Norritown area. Thank you all....I've been mulling over it all day. I hate feeling like people are talking about me behind my back. And I"m sure they aren't but I let my own insecurities as a human being creep in there. I really shouldn't care what they think at all. It's MY child. and MY choice. There is another field trip in the handbook listed (it was in the handbook - I guess I didn't read it - I should have shame on me) for the spring. But I will be responsible for teaching a class that day (I'm teaching cooking the spring semester). So....I guess she'll just have to stay with me, stay home with dad or someone will have to teach my cooking class b/c I will not let my youngest go somewhere without me. I'm not as leery about the older two - simply b/c my friend is one of the gym teachers, and well, they are older and more aware of their surroundings. And for my son's class there's only 10 kids and 4 teachers - so I seriously doubt they'd end up missing a kid. At least I'd hope not! LOL It's nice to know I'm not crazy. The people are really nice. And I am ultra conservative and over protective, I know I am. And I don't think that's necessarily wrong in the day and age we live in. I guess I just have to get used to defending myself as that's the way I am. Sigh.
No you are not crazy. I am on the steering committee for our church co-op (42 families this session). We would never plan a field trip with that age group during a regular co-op time slot. We do take a field trip or 2 during the year but usually at a different time (so all members can attend with their children) or we do not have any classes that day and all go to the field trip. We have had the older kids take a field trip without all their parents but they were all 12 and older. My girls went on preschool field trips with their church preschool but we always had the option to chaperone and/or not let them attend. Rhonda
I have to agree with the others, I would not want my 3 year old going anywhere without me (or another family member). Even when my dd was in preschool at 3 1/2 I went with them to every field trip. I just preferred it that way so that I could keep an eye on her myself. My thoughts on it are that with all of the other kids, it's easy for a 3 year old (who we all know don't stay where they are supposed to) to slip away and get lost and goodness knows what else.
Me, too. I must be crazy, too, then. I suspect a lot of folks think we're too over protective - our boys are outgoing, cheerful and high-energy...but I guarantee they would completely FREAK if they went on a trip like that without me or DH along. (BTW - does it really matter that they think we're too overprotective?) I probably would take this a bit further to find out why I didn't know about the trip - did I miss something in the planning? A note home? Left off the phone tree? I just thinks it's awfully weird to find out at the last minute because they were concerned about liability, as opposed to keeping everyone informed.
Someone who wants to take a group of 3 year olds out without their parents = CRAZY in my book! I wouldn't even want to be in/near that group! Yikes! Like most of the PPs, *I* would never do it. However, a few things crossed my mind. a. You mentioned you were more open to leaving your other two when you knew the leader was your friend. If the group felt fairly tight-knit, others might feel the same way about whoever was taking the kids out, KWIM? Not sure that would pertain to the 3 yo range, but other similar trips, if you are joining a group that is all fairly closely matched. b. After a), perhaps more of the parents of older kids are planning to go with the group and just not disclosing it. c. Yeah, yeah, tough luck on them if they think you are overprotective, as long as you are comfortable. My mom and your school district probably think you are overprotective for HSing your kids, but you are good with that, right? d. You never know who is remaining silent so as not to be "different" - although one would think among a HSing group, that would be a smaller-than-average number, LOL. But if it looks like the younger trips - or trips you are not comfortable with, or undisclosed trips - are fairly commonplace, you may want to seek out another group whose workings you are more comfortable with, rather than feeling out of place.
If you're crazy then I'm more so coz' I wouldn't have allowed my kids on a group trip without me until they were at least 7! How's that for overprotective???
When we take our pre school kids at church on a trip, at least one parent or adult relative has to go with them. I think it just makes good sense. I would never let one of mine go at three unless one of us went. Stay crazy, it's safer for the kids.
the release of liablities and the forms for behavior rules were things that threw me for a loop to, but ours was explained that we are using a church's facility and they need ti for thier insurance. We are responsible for our own children in our co op so this is good, but I would be upset if I were you too. You sound 'normal' to me! I wouldnt have sent my 3 yr old off with strangers either, homeschoolers or not!
The crazy ones are the ones who WANT to take 3 year olds on a field trip without their parents. That's just plain nuts! I wouldn't take a group of three year olds across the without an adult hand for each one!
