what does it take to be a parent

Today, I attended Jerry's school for their "class observation day".

Basically, it's where the parents sit in on their class and observe what the kids do in the course of a "typical" school day. Right at the start of the visit, I realised that I do not particularly want to be a "hands-on" parent who has to know what goes on during the school day. I was utterly bored with the explanatory meetings before and after the actual "observation" and frankly, the class itself was boring.

I really don't want to go through kindergarten again from any perspective; it is more important for my son to live the experience as I had lived through mine at that age (sans parental participation/interference).

I suppose it's good to know that my son learns how to speak 'n' spell, count, be polite, sensitive, considerate and sufficiently responsive in class (and more importantly, learns how to go to the bathroom and wash his hands). However, I don't feel like I have to be part of it while he is in school. I prefer the mystery of school to the extent that I can ask my son, every now and then: "Is that what they teach you in school?" and either sing his praises for any good behavior or "tut tut" my disbelief at any sort of misbehavior (thereby disclaiming any resposibility).

I feel that perhaps I am not a parent of this particular era as I am uninterested in constantly breathing down the teachers' necks over any minor detail involving my son and his time and achievements in and out of kindergarten as some parents are wont to do. I like my son to come home and tell me what he chooses about his day instead of knowing the details of each passing moment beforehand from either the teachers or other devoted parents who spend just as much time at the school to gather every detail. Don't get me wrong, I love my sons, but I just don't want to go through school with them (it literally bores me to tears).

I wish to separate home from school in the years to follow. (Then again, I might renege on my proclamation and be the most clingy, demanding and interfering parent and end up carrying my sons' school bags until they graduate from college :p...fingers double-crossed that that doesn't happen).