Working mums and 11+

[redbrige]

I'm a full time working mum .Can please working mums do share how did you handle the 11+ journey?
did you take any time off for preparation? How long do you think we need a time off?
I'm sure 11+ preparation needs parental support but I'm not sure how long to take timeoff?
Waiting to listen from you all?

[scary mum]

None, and never considered it! What about GCSEs, A levels etc etc? (actually I didn't work full time at the time of 11 plus, but given that the kids were at school, I can't quite see what taking time off work would have done for them?) Or am I misunderstanding?

[redbrige]

Yes scary mum I have seen few mum taking time off to be with kids as the 11+ exams nearby.
they say they come home tiring after a full day at work and couldn't really concentrate on kid.
There are many mums who work from 9-6 and reach home by 7.
I heard from them ,so wondering does it really needed to take break from the work and concentrate on kids when
they are back from school.
I'm new to 11+ and from all the hard work and coaching all the mums doing here with kids is mind blowing.

[Peridot]

I was working and used some of my earnings to pay for a tutor for 1.5 hours a week. Then the children had an hour a week homework. I can't quite see why you would need to take time off work to replicate that! I think a balanced approach is needed where you don't let the 11 plus take over your life. Good luck.

[moved]

When I used to tutor I suggested that parent and child put a regular time into their week that was stress free to study, e.g. Sunday afternoon.

[Peridot]

When I used to tutor I suggested that parent and child put a regular time into their week that was stress free to study, e.g. Sunday afternoon.

But presumably not hours and hours during the rest of the week, moved....? I think it's too easy to get paranoid/obsessed with 11 plus study.

[Proud_Dad]

I'm a full time working mum .Can please working mums do share how did you handle the 11+ journey?
did you take any time off for preparation? How long do you think we need a time off?
I'm sure 11+ preparation needs parental support but I'm not sure how long to take timeoff?
Waiting to listen from you all?

I'm curious as to why you specifically talk about working mums, rather than working parents? Would you ever expect a full time working dad to consider taking time off work to help prepare his child for the 11 plus? If not, then why would you think it something that a working mum might consider?

I'm not having a go at you or accusing you of being sexist or anything. Just interested in people's general attitudes towards gender roles and this post seemed to highlight a common theme. My wife and I both work full time and as such tend to share homework help etc, which seems logical and fair. I do sometimes feel from reading this forum though (which seems to be predominantly posted on by women)that we're the exception rather than the norm and am interested in why this is. Do most full time working mum's consider their careers less important than their male partners? Do they consider themselves better academically qualified to help out with homework and 11+? Or is it just an ingrained sense of that's the way things should be?

[southbucks3]

We both wanted to be the stay at home parent, after a brief "discussion" I won.

I do think there was an 'ingrained sense' of it being the right thing to do as well, but i am not going to participate in a big long debate about it.

I have very few regrets, and do support my children day and night, however I support them in far more important ways than tutoring the 11+.

Could I have fitted in my rather disorganised attempts at tutoring if I worked full time....Yes, but I imagine I would have been far more organised.

[moved]

No, but I did advocate some 'study' each day. Usually in the form of vocab/tables. I set a paper per week that I expected to be completed independently and then marked by a parent. I would cover issues that arose. I suppose I was asking for 2.5 hrs per week including my lesson.

[JamesDean]

Do they consider themselves better academically qualified to help out with homework and 11+? Or is it just an ingrained sense of that's the way things should be?

No, but I definitely have more patience than DH ....

JD (mum)