Rota Mum, My Experiences

When my children were attending pre-school , there used to be a system known as rota-mum. This was where the mums (or dads) of the children were asked to stay and help at a session once or twice a term

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In my experience because this was optional and not essential, it was the ‘same old parents’ who would be willing.

When my eldest was at pre-school being a rota-mum  worked well for us as I  was permitted to take along my younger son ( I think I only counted as half a mum because of having a little one of my own in attendance). I was also given a 50% reduction on my older sons session fee, my younger child loved coming with me because it made him feel like ‘a big boy’ like his brother.

When my third son was at a different pre-school and I again stayed as a rota-mum, he would act up. The play worker in charge assured me that he was a model child when I wasn’t there, but while I was he seemed to think that he could misbehave.

As a rule, rota-mums were not allowed to take children, other than their own to the toilet but because I was also a registered child minder and had therefore been police checked  I was able to do this and the other helpers seemed more than happy for me to take what seemed like 100’s of children to the toilet!

One time that I was helping a child asked me to write her name on her painting, after telling me how to spell it she then said,”You have spoiled my picture” and painted over the name!

Overall I found being a rota-mum quite enjoyable, I didn’t really understand why some parents wouldn’t volunteer for it, maybe they had work commitments that prevented them from being able to help.

A friend of mine was offered a job at her pre-school after being a successful rota-mum.

I have met some great people from being a rota-mum who I am still friends with now that my sons are in their mid 20’s  and 30’s.

I would be interested to hear other parents thoughts and experiences of being a rota-mum.

As always questions/comments are welcome and please share on social media if you feel that your friends would like to read this post.

Until next time

Karen

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WRITTEN BY KAREN DENNIS FOR HER BLOG, THE NEXT BEST THING TO MUMMY.

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