I Missed My Daughter’s Field Trip—Here’s How I Stopped Forgetting What Matters
The Day I Realized I Couldn’t Keep Doing It All
Last year, I missed my daughter’s first field trip.
Not because I didn’t care. Not because I forgot.
Because the permission slip got lost in a flood of emails—and by the time I found it, it was too late.
She stayed behind while her class went to the zoo.
I’ll never forget the look on her face when I picked her up. I felt like I had let her down.
That moment stuck with me—not as proof that I was a bad parent, but as proof that something wasn’t working. I was holding everything together… barely. School stuff, home stuff, mental notes, invisible labor.
It was just too much.
What No One Tells You About the “Mental Load” of School Life
Some of the hardest parts of parenting aren’t the big things.
It’s the forgotten pajama day.
The late permission slip.
The panicked “Wait, did you pack the lunch for the field trip?”
It’s keeping track of all the small things that matter to our kids—and how crushing it feels when one slips through the cracks.
I started noticing how much energy I was spending just trying not to forget something.
One Small Change That Made a Big Difference
I came across an app called Parentr—honestly, I didn’t expect much. But someone said, “It just keeps you from dropping the ball,” so I gave it a try.
Now, all those school events I used to miss? They just… show up in my calendar.
• Picture day, spirit week, random early dismissals—they’re not a surprise anymore.
• Reminders show up when I actually have time to do something about them.
• And both parents get the same info, so no more last-minute confusion.
Last month, we had Crazy Sock Day. Instead of finding out at drop-off, my phone reminded me the night before.
We turned it into a fun little game—no stress, just a good morning.
It’s Not About Being Perfect—It’s About Breathing Room
I’m still juggling a lot. But now I don’t feel like I’m constantly one forgotten detail away from a meltdown.
That quiet mental relief—that’s been the real gift.
If you’re also carrying too much, just know:
You’re not alone.
You’re not failing.
And it’s okay to make things easier on yourself.
Here’s what worked for me: https://www.parentr.com/download
Maybe it’ll help you too.
