I Quit the PTA

I must confess...I quit the PTA.  I walked away from being knee deep into one of those we-need-your-leadership-and-your-experience PTA leadership roles two hours before the first big preschool parent meeting of the year and I feel no regrets.  For the past two years I have been on volunteer overdrive.  I readily admit to having a problem with volunteering and needing a 12 step program to curb my desire to over commit myself to events at school. 

It first started when my daughter was 3.  I was new to the school and I wanted to get involved.  To meet other parents, I decided to attend the PTA meetings.  It seemed like a good idea at the time but realize those meetings were the beginning of the end.  Those meetings sucked me in and before long, I raised my hand to volunteer because no one else did.  I should have learned my lesson after the first year when an inability to sit on my hands and bite my tongue was the reason why I ended up coordinating the school silent auction.  Then when no one else stepped forward the following year, I volunteered again.  Sucker!

But now I am done.  I'm done going to meetings where I might inadvertently blurt out that I would be willing to be part of your task force, coordinate the school yard sale, or chair the bake sale.  I refuse to be drafted by other parents who want me to serve.  I have learned to minimize my involvement by allowing myself to say no with a smile on my face and to walk away before I get asked again.

Walking away from a history of volunteerism at my child’s preschool wasn’t difficult.  I’ve served my time. I’ve paid my dues.  I’ve paved the way for others to take over the roles that I have left.  It is time for someone else to step forward.  My time has come to an end at least in the preschool world.

But my time is just beginning in elementary school.  On open house day I signed up to be a kindergarten room parent.  I wrote my name faster than I could really think about what I was doing.  Perhaps this too is the beginning of the end but at least I’ve avoided PTA meetings so far!  Bring on the cupcakes!

Original DC Metro Moms post

When Leticia isn’t volunteering herself for the next school event, she spends her time writing about quality technology for families on her Tech Savvy Mama site.