Room mother power

[Anonymous]

Has to be a troll. I have been a room parent and a PTA officer, and non of the frequent rants about both have been based on reality

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was a room parent for two years. Room parents are suckers who do unappreciated beast work. I could have made so much money the hours I put into it. Thankless job. And people don’t suck up to you, they come to you with their useless problems instead of taking it up with the teacher or admin.

Exactly this. Somehow room parent = tech support for anyone not getting emails from the principal/teacher/school

[Anonymous]

I know people like to volunteer for the parties and field trip chaperones, but I’m surprised they’re falling all over themselves like that! There’s a lot of interest at my kids’ school and the teacher usually just says if you already volunteered for the Halloween or holiday party, other parents are going to have a chance for Valentines Day or the end of the year party.

[Anonymous]

I like volunteering at school and other parents have never been anything but polite and helpful. I tend to think a lot of stuff on dcum is just in people’s heads. Like I bet someone just texted her like “thanks for being the room parent! I’d love to do thanksgiving because I like making pie but I will slot in anywhere” and she’s freaking out about it.

[Anonymous]

Must be nice.

All I give my kid's room mom is disdain because she is totally inept and has her own kid's best interests at the top of her list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You sound wildly insecure. Be careful of not misinterpreting people's motives and styles of communication.

no, she doesnt. she is sharing a simple funny story on an anonymous board. do you have a similar story? why would she need to watch out? seems she is interpreting them perfectly.

you seem like someone who is not represented in the story. wants to be one of the fairweather friends but isnt (op shows no such desire) and also didnt get their name picked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I like volunteering at school and other parents have never been anything but polite and helpful. I tend to think a lot of stuff on dcum is just in people’s heads. Like I bet someone just texted her like “thanks for being the room parent! I’d love to do thanksgiving because I like making pie but I will slot in anywhere” and she’s freaking out about it.

That it is not typical is what makes it a story worth sharing unlike this.

what an insufferable gro here

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has to be a troll. I have been a room parent and a PTA officer, and non of the frequent rants about both have been based on reality

+1

Same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I threw my name in the hat to be my youngest's room parent and randomly got picked...ok great! Doing what needs to be done and put out a call for volunteers to run the various holiday parties, first come first served.
These women, some of whom have completely ignored me for YEARS, are now kissing my ring and acting like we are besties because they want me to pick them for their desired holiday. The texts I have been receiving are unbelievable. I read them to my husband and he was dying. "The power must be intoxicating."
I don't like this feeling at all! If you didn't talk to me when I was a nobody then we're not friends. Any similar stories?

None of my kids' schools have ever had a designated room parent (public school). Teachers/admin ask for volunteers when needed. Can someone explain what this role is?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I like volunteering at school and other parents have never been anything but polite and helpful. I tend to think a lot of stuff on dcum is just in people’s heads. Like I bet someone just texted her like “thanks for being the room parent! I’d love to do thanksgiving because I like making pie but I will slot in anywhere” and she’s freaking out about it.

+1

I have volunteered a lot, including room parent a couple of times and PTA board. I found nearly all parents to be polite and helpful (some had more time than others, but all tried their best). I suppose there were a few parents who seemed a bit strange at times, but certainly nothing malicious.

[Anonymous]

Weird. At our (private) school there is a lot of parent interest in volunteering, but it is set up so that it is truly FCFS and the room parents do not have any say in selection. An email is sent out with a link to a Signup Genius or a Google Spreadsheet and that’s that. And I haven’t seen any evidence of pre-seeding in the ones where I saw the email right away and clicked.

[Anonymous]

EVEN if people are falling over themselves trying to get involved (that won't last as your kids get older, believe me), it STILL doesn't mean they're sucking up to you.

You really need to reframe your thinking and correct this worldview, before you pass this on to your kids. It's unhealthy.

Dear Lord. It's all about you all the time, isn't it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I threw my name in the hat to be my youngest's room parent and randomly got picked...ok great! Doing what needs to be done and put out a call for volunteers to run the various holiday parties, first come first served.
These women, some of whom have completely ignored me for YEARS, are now kissing my ring and acting like we are besties because they want me to pick them for their desired holiday. The texts I have been receiving are unbelievable. I read them to my husband and he was dying. "The power must be intoxicating."
I don't like this feeling at all! If you didn't talk to me when I was a nobody then we're not friends. Any similar stories?

None of my kids' schools have ever had a designated room parent (public school). Teachers/admin ask for volunteers when needed. Can someone explain what this role is?

At my kids’ school it is really just planning the parties and sometimes other special events (working as a point person between teacher and parents). Usually the teacher gave me quite specific direction about these events and as room parent I sent out an email for volunteers, supply or monetary donations, etc. Also handled the class gift. That was about it.

[Anonymous]

I don’t wanna tear you

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Weird. At our (private) school there is a lot of parent interest in volunteering, but it is set up so that it is truly FCFS and the room parents do not have any say in selection. An email is sent out with a link to a Signup Genius or a Google Spreadsheet and that’s that. And I haven’t seen any evidence of pre-seeding in the ones where I saw the email right away and clicked.

As room parent I sent out the signup genius but it was sent to all parents and first come, first served. The school/teacher would not have put up with behavior that excluded anyone- nor should they. Parents also arranged volunteer hours privately with the teacher if they and the teacher wanted this.