Irritated about last-minute call for volunteers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Who needs weeks to plan ahead to get drinks, party treats etc anyway? All it takes is one lousy trip to the store! Strange and very self-centered way of thinking. I wouldn't want you to be around volunteering anyway. You sound so obnoxious.

New to this thread, but I do. Single mom with with long commute, by the time I work a full day, deal with traffic and get DD and myself and our various baggage up 2 flights of stairs each evening, it's straight to dinner-bath-reading-bed so I can keep DD on a decent sleep schedule. I'm happy to provide drinks, party treats, room supplies, and to volunteer my time whenever possible -- in fact, I'm a fav parent to do those things at DD's school as I usually bring great stuff , but I need time to plan ahead, an extra errand added to our weeknights throws off the schedule, and I need to organize my work week so deliverables are taken care of and I can take the time off.

Also, since DD and I live in a condo space is at a premium; any extra items will create clutter in our small space, so I can't really keep a lot of stuff on hand "just in case," and since I also drive a small car, that means I might have to take some things out of my trunk and put them in storage (DD's scooter, tricycle) to accomodate bringing things to the school.

I don't think OP is trying to be difficult, just acknowledging that unexpected errands/time commitments are difficult for some people. You may feel you wouldn't want someone who needs extra time to plan and vocalizes it to volunteer, but you may also be cheating your child's room out of some great treats, school supplies and parent room time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Room parent here. I do a list for all events in the beginning of the year. I contact signed up parents a few days before event as if I do the week before..parents forget to show up and or bring the food they said they would and if i send an email a week before and then a day before, I get nastiness about too many emails. FYI room parent is a thankless job. If I didn't love kids so much I wouldn't do it.

Not cool. You need to give people a full week's notice. They don't remember what they signed up for, and they certainly don't know what you will request. Midweek, same week requests are horribly rude and disruptive. Ignore the complainers and send two emails.

[Anonymous]

" I stopped reading most of the room parent emails last fall - it was just stressing me out. Sorry, no, I can't just drop everything and show up at school in the middle of my workday every other week. And, no, I'm not running out shopping in the middle of the week for drinks, supplies, party treats, and art project supplies. Not going to happen. If you're not going to give me a few weeks to plan ahead, then do it yourself.

Why don't you offer to be the room parent so that you can send the request emails out more timely?"

I did, but the Queen Bee Wanna Bee SAHMs lobbied hard for those spots - it's the best way to position oneself for a future PTA President position.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"

Why don't you offer to be the room parent so that you can send the request emails out more timely?"

I did, but the Queen Bee Wanna Bee SAHMs lobbied hard for those spots - it's the best way to position oneself for a future PTA President position.

Well, they can have that honor. It is a thankless task to be PTA President. I've seen a few good ones and some horrible ones in my years as a parent. I wouldn't wish that job on my worst enemy.

With regard to the original question, it's the school's (class parent's, PTA's) prerogative to make the last minute volunteer requests. It's my prerogative to say yes when I can help out and "no" when it's just too much. End of story. I'm done feeling guilty about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:With regard to the original question, it's the school's (class parent's, PTA's) prerogative to make the last minute volunteer requests. It's my prerogative to say yes when I can help out and "no" when it's just too much. End of story. I'm done feeling guilty about it.

ITA! It took me a long time to get over my compulsive need to pitch in when those last-minute requests came out. There's only so many times I can tell them I could likely have volunteered if they only given me more notice without them getting the hint, so I've stopped saying anything. If the event doesn't go off, then it doesn't go off. Eventually they'll either get the hint and give parents more notice or they won't.

[Anonymous]

I'm a PTA president. If people are aspiring to this please send them my way. I can easily think of 20 things to farm out to them to test their mettle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a PTA president. If people are aspiring to this please send them my way. I can easily think of 20 things to farm out to them to test their mettle.

lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: Who needs weeks to plan ahead to get drinks, party treats etc anyway? All it takes is one lousy trip to the store! Strange and very self-centered way of thinking. I wouldn't want you to be around volunteering anyway. You sound so obnoxious.

New to this thread, but I do. Single mom with with long commute, by the time I work a full day, deal with traffic and get DD and myself and our various baggage up 2 flights of stairs each evening, it's straight to dinner-bath-reading-bed so I can keep DD on a decent sleep schedule. I'm happy to provide drinks, party treats, room supplies, and to volunteer my time whenever possible -- in fact, I'm a fav parent to do those things at DD's school as I usually bring great stuff , but I need time to plan ahead, an extra errand added to our weeknights throws off the schedule, and I need to organize my work week so deliverables are taken care of and I can take the time off.

Also, since DD and I live in a condo space is at a premium; any extra items will create clutter in our small space, so I can't really keep a lot of stuff on hand "just in case," and since I also drive a small car, that means I might have to take some things out of my trunk and put them in storage (DD's scooter, tricycle) to accomodate bringing things to the school.

I don't think OP is trying to be difficult, just acknowledging that unexpected errands/time commitments are difficult for some people. You may feel you wouldn't want someone who needs extra time to plan and vocalizes it to volunteer, but you may also be cheating your child's room out of some great treats, school supplies and parent room time.

This is our lifestyle too, so this would be my perspective as well.

[Anonymous]

Personally, I think it's best if working parents took on room parent roles and became the volunteer committee chair.

In my experience, things have run much more smoothly b/c time is tight for working parents.

[Anonymous]

OP, I didn't see this from your point of view since I do NOT like asking for volunteers for events on the school calendar. I only make the dreaded plea if people don't volunteer. It is nice when people volunteer because they want to not because they have to. I am sorry if you experienced at a school my DC go to and I organized it. I'll remember to make the public plea for volunteers much earlier if I am in that position again.