The End of Motherhood?: Dilemma of the Day...to go or not to go?

It is 7:23 AM. Upper School Parent Day starts in less than an hour.

I am happily working at my computer when Mate stumbles in, bleary eyed. He had the post-movie pickup duty last night...

Mate: So, what are we doing?

Me: About what?

Mate: Upper School Parent Day.

Me: You are NOT actually considering not going?

Mate: We've met two of his teachers already!

Me: (Torn) We have NEVER missed one before.

Mate: I think we would grow as people if we lived in the anxiety of not going.

Me: (Laughing). No, seriously. Isn't it a dereliction of duty to not go?

Silence.

Me: I'm waiting.

Mate: I know. I'm thinking.

Beat.

Mate: I don't know. I think there are a lot of ways to be a slacker as a parent, but missing a ten minute synopsis of Life Skills is not one of them.

Me: It's true that I never actually learn that much at these things and there is no time...

Mate: (Interrupting) Would your mother go?

Me: I doubt it.

Mate: Look how well you turned out.

Me: (Looking at him disbelievingly - he has conveniently forgotten all those years of therapy) ... it's true there is no time to actually talk to the teachers so in a way, I go as much to BE SEEN than I do to get anything out of it. I don't want to be seen as a slacker mother and have some vain hope that the teachers will pay more attention to Youngest if I show up.

Mate: I don't think he needs our help in that area.

This is very true.

Me: Don't you have some sense of obligation?

Mate: Yes, I do. But I am fighting it with every fiber of my being. Because I'd rather stay home and work.

Me: (Conflicted) ARGH!

Help us, dear readers-if-there-are-any-of-you-still-out-there, you're our only hope. What should we do?

PS Since I am clearly abandoning my youngest for the joys of my newest pursuit, come see how great it is...