Missing in Action

Yep, I've been MIA lately. The life of a PTA and soccer swim Mom of three has beeeeeen busy.

For all my endeavors, I won a Golden Acorn Award, an emergency kit, and a bag of pretzels at an award ceremony. Seriously, it was nice for them to recognize the hours of volunteering put in by many moms and dads. It's an unfortunate fact that people diminish or disparage PTA work because of the stereotypes. Having filled just about every position: Treasurer, Secretary, VP Fundraising, Committee Chair and President, believe me it's a lot of hours away from the family and a lot of grunt work--with no pay. I am still sore from Friday night's Walk-a-thon set up and tear down. And yet, it's worth it to see the money funnelled directly into the classrooms and young minds. Our current school is fortunate to pay for extra teaching aids, Art Docent programs (my 7 year old daughter pointed out the "texture" of a painting in a art shop yesterday), Math Olympiads, Destination Imagination, Science Fairs, Writing Seminars and Authors in Residence, Classroom Grants to every classroom, etc. With a budget of $75,000 annually and a $100,000 reserve, we are very fortunate indeed compared to our former school.

That said, I am considering this to be one of my last years of PTA Board volunteer work. I might consider being Legislative Representative for our school to help lobby for more educational funding in this coming election year. Yet, other than that, my PTA career is winding down. My littlest will be in school next year and I will start to study for that 10 year delayed LSAT. Yep, Mommy's fixin' to get herself a career in the next 5 years.

Before PTA, before my kids were school-age, it was FSG. We were in the Army with a deployed platoon, and the typically issues and fundraising were implemented in the form of a Family Support Group. Oh, the issues of 18 year old brides with three kids and no access to her husband's checkbook (in Egypt) to pay for food and diapers!! As the platoon leader's wife, at the ripe old age of 24 years, I was a college educated senior wife and obvious candidate for leadership. It still makes me shake my head that my husband, at a year younger and married less than a year, counseled his men on marriage and marital issues.

Let's not forget the volunteer hours for year-round and recreational swimming. We also shouldn't forget the short season of coaching soccer and the years of being the soccer team's "Team Mom." And there's Class Room Mom for the last 5 years, party Mom 4 years straight, etc.

Thinking this over, I think I have realized somewhere along the line, to "make up" for being the stay-at-home Mom I thought I would never be, I turned into a volunteer junkie. I can neglect my truly disastrous house because I am busy volunteering. I can sometimes neglect my marriage because I am busy helping others. I can especially neglect myself and my weight, my anemia and health issues, my sanity, and my stress because I am helping others.

It seems silly writing it out, but taking care of myself seems selfish. So silly, I am resolving for a third year in a row to cut down on the volunteer work. I have held firm with the pressure-filled phone calls to take on another PTA position. I held firm and said "no." My husband gave me a standing ovation. In the past, I would prevaricate with "only if you can 't find anyone else," which always resulted in me taking the position because they stop looking--they've hooked one. I know this because I have done it myself.

So all you out there reading this, hold me to this, please. I need to take a year off before I think about law school and get my home, my marriage, and myself in order. I need to say fuck the guilt and say, "NO!" No board position, no room mom, no yearbook, no party mom, no soccer mom... I need to say yes to the last year to spend time before my 5 year old hits full-day school. Yes to hitting the gym and watching what I eat. Yes to date night with my husband. Yes, reading for enjoyment. Yes to taking care of myself.

Hold me to it people! I already am feeling guilty saying this after receiving my Golden Acorn Award. I feel as if I am letting people down who nominated me. A friend was surprised and a bit shocked to see that I wasn't running for a position. It's what is expected of me!

'lisciously scribed by Scout's Honor @ 9:05 AM