Packet Pickup

My youngest son starts the 5th grade on Monday. Yesterday was packet Pickup Day where the parents sign all the forms and pay all class party fees, PTA fees and buy spirit wear. They also have open house so that you can see where the class is and meet the teacher. It’s back to school time!

Since I have been a work at home dad for some time, I use these activities as reminders about how lucky I am. Most of the other parents are worried, harried and look like they rushed there from work. They act like they are there for as little time as possible so they can rush back to work. They are there to have ‘quality’ time with their kids so they can put ‘quantity’ time in at work.

I go there in my ‘summer business casual’ which are usually cargo shorts, a t shirt and tennis shoes. I put my attention on my son and spend as much time as he wants. Because I spend quantity time with him, we end up with lots of quality time. These are times you can’t schedule into your life.

I learned a long time ago, people have it backwards. They should spend quality time at work so that they can spend quantity time with the people they love.