Dreaded Contact Forms

The official count down has begun! School starts in two weeks. Excitement is all around the house. Mostly because my middle son gets to go to “real school” this year as a Kindergartener.  He is sure that he is ready!

In this area, the elementary school hosts an Open House the week before school. Parents are supposed to come to the school (during the work day) to drop off school supplies and fill out the necessary paperwork. I secretly fear this event because the teacher is going to ask for the Dreaded Contact Form. Seems silly, you laugh. But every year, I dread being asked to list the names and addresses of 3-4 people who can pick my children up from school.

Every time we have PCS’d it has been in the summer. We arrive in a new town about a month or so before school. We are never in location near family. How can I come up with 3-4 names? Oh, and they have to be able to get my kids within an hour. So, I can’t list my mom in Pittsburgh. (I've thought about it to complete the form). Two names, almost easy. Between my husband & I, one of us can probably get to the school within an hour.
 

Now for the third and/or fourth name?!!

I have embraced the “it takes a village” mantra. Fortunately for me, my neighbors are a retired AF family sympathetic to my situation. Last year I asked her if she minded being my #3 and she gracious agreed.

Well, last year, she was called to action while I was TDY and my husband was outside of the 1 hour radius. Thankfully she was able to rescue my son from his quarantined cot while I was on a plane and unaware any of this was happening.   

Lesson Learned: Don't put someone on the roster who can't fill the duties.

Lesson Learned: Must list real people with correct numbers.

I say that I’ve embraced the “village” concept but it is still hard to ask for help. For some reason I feel that I/we have to do it all when I am willing and often extend a helping hand to others. This year has to be different.  I openly accept that I need a #3 and a #4 and that people I know are open and willing to help me. Just as I am willing to help them.

Fortunately, we have lived in our community for several years and we have friends who can help. I am grateful to be at a place where I know people who can be my #3 & #4.

No more fear of the Dreaded Contact Form!

I don’t know what I would do if we were new to the area.

How do you find your #3’s and #4’s??