Negotiating responsibilities and tasks in shared care arrangements

In this chapter, I exploring the negotiations and distribution of tasks and responsibilities among parents and staff utilizing a parent council meeting. This aspect shapes the conditions and expectations encountered by parents, influencing their actions and self-understanding. The discussion at the parent council meeting revolves around packed lunches, and this discussion is illustrative to the focus of the chapter, as I want to foreground the interaction between parents and staff.
I explore how ECEC staff articulates an institutional agenda that positions parents as essential supporters of the activities in ECEC. Futhermore, I examine the various understandings and subject positions of parents and staff within the negotiation. As the meeting progresses, the analysis will demonstrate a shift in the staff's understanding of the collaboration, as they ultimately identify themselves as someone who also needs to support parents and consider the tasks and responsibilities which parents navigate in their everyday family life. Lastly, I address the collaboration among parents, as this also significantly influences the shared care arrangement in the context of ECEC