I’m usually that person who raises my hand when a volunteer opportunity arises. When the kids’ teachers needed parents to help in the class… I said yes. When my daughter needed a Brownie Troop Leader for her newly formed troop… I said yes. When someone needs help with meals, picking up kids, baking cookies… I say yes. I’m that person who figures if I’m complaining about something being done right… I better put my money where my mouth is and do something to help promote change.
What a fool I’ve been.
I’m not saying you should never volunteer to help, but there is such a thing as going overboard. Volunteering for one or two chores is good. Volunteering for 10 or 12 is bad. Bad, bad, bad.
When the school began looking for parents to help out at the carnival… I said no. When they wanted parents to participate in Young Author’s Day (where you sit in a group of kids and let them each read their stories)… I said no. You get to a point when too much is just, well, too much.
Just because I don’t have a full time job outside of my home doesn’t mean that I should be the only one expected to jump to help every time someone needs it. It’s not fair. I resent it. I complain just as much as the kids about going to school on the days that I volunteer in the classroom. Believe it or not, I do have other things to do with my time. Why should I show up on time every week to do my duty in the classroom just to have other parents call in sick, or simply not show up. More work for the teacher. More work for me.
It always sounds good… oh sure, I’ll help. But the reality is that by the time that hour, day, week comes around… there is always something else I’d rather be doing. Pretty much most things I’ve volunteered for, I’ve regretted at some point. I know, I know… I’m doing it for the kids. Whatever! I do enough for my kids. I feed them, bathe them, put a roof over their heads and clothes on their backs. I help with homework, take them to the park and stay up all night when they’re sick. Do I really have to do everything else with them too? I think not.
I’ll finish out my year of classroom volunteering, but I’m pretty sure this will be my last. I’ve put my years in. Time for some other mother to be the patsy.
