How much should I as room mom harass parents for $?

[Anonymous]

I contribute with educative stuff every month and a heavy check. Don't worry, dear. I appreciate I'm not invited to your crappy parties. I have enough of the good ones.

Do you tell your kids not to participate in the party then? If you don't contribute and your kids participate than you are being cheap and mean spirited. When I was class parent the most we asked for was between $5 and $7. Why should other parents pay for your snowflake?

[Anonymous]

So many times the room moms are cheap putting crappy sugary snacks.

So how are room parents supposed to buy high quality stuff if you don't contribute? Btw, I never had "crappy" stuff. The best parties we had was when we had ice cream parties with the trimmings...marshmellows, chocolate or strawberry syrup, M & Ms etc.

Again, if you don't want to contribute than tell your kid not to partake. Or why don't you just stop being a killjoy and send in the money so your child can enjoy themselves?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op

I also had the thankless job of collecting money for class parties. Some parents refuse to pay even when they know it is for the kids. If you don't want to pay why not keep your kids home? So cheap and so annoying. Of course, I never would prevent a kid whose parents didn't pay but it is so unfair. Why do these parents think they are so special that I have to pay for their kids?

This was at a private school so it is not a question of not having money.

Are you fucking kidding me?!?!? I should have my child miss a school day and education because some bored housewife needs to fill her time with class parties?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First of all OP God bless you for taking it on. I've done it and I hate it. I prefer to volunteer in other ways. The really good room moms I've seen (which does not include me) make 4 requests. First two requests come the same week-1 via email and 1 via note home in weekly folder. (Attaching an envelope sounds like a good idea). Third request comes maybe a week later. Fourth request comes 2 or so weeks after that saying something like "It's not too late" and "any amount would be so helpful."

One year for things like pizza parties the room parent charged by the slice and had us pay by a certain date. She gave a reminder or 2. it's an affluent area and the cost was pretty low (she had good coupons). You'd be surprised how many parents get their act together to buy their kid 2 slices of pizza. Sucks for kids who's parents still don't do it, but honestly I think she said she got 100% participation.

So some poor kid might have ended up hungry? That's horrible but so in line with the "I've got mine" point of view.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First of all OP God bless you for taking it on. I've done it and I hate it. I prefer to volunteer in other ways. The really good room moms I've seen (which does not include me) make 4 requests. First two requests come the same week-1 via email and 1 via note home in weekly folder. (Attaching an envelope sounds like a good idea). Third request comes maybe a week later. Fourth request comes 2 or so weeks after that saying something like "It's not too late" and "any amount would be so helpful."

One year for things like pizza parties the room parent charged by the slice and had us pay by a certain date. She gave a reminder or 2. it's an affluent area and the cost was pretty low (she had good coupons). You'd be surprised how many parents get their act together to buy their kid 2 slices of pizza. Sucks for kids who's parents still don't do it, but honestly I think she said she got 100% participation.

So some poor kid might have ended up hungry? That's horrible but so in line with the "I've got mine" point of view.

This is smart! The room mom probably would have paid for the kids of the deadbeat parents and fed them, but she certainly cut down on the number of kids for whom she had to foot the bill by taking this approach.

I wouldn't agree with this for a more economically diverse neighborhood, and the room mom in question probably wouldn't have done it if she was cost conscious enough to use coupons. However, since it was an affluent area, I think it's great.

[Anonymous]

Some people just opt out on principle.

I've had more success with asking for money and offering to receive it multiple ways:

check via backpack mail
check mailed to my house
paypal with link
offering to pop by and pick up cash

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op

I also had the thankless job of collecting money for class parties. Some parents refuse to pay even when they know it is for the kids. If you don't want to pay why not keep your kids home? So cheap and so annoying. Of course, I never would prevent a kid whose parents didn't pay but it is so unfair. Why do these parents think they are so special that I have to pay for their kids?

This was at a private school so it is not a question of not having money.

Are you fucking kidding me?!?!? I should have my child miss a school day and education because some bored housewife needs to fill her time with class parties?

LOL what? This is OP. I make 6 figures in a flexible job I've earned via successful seniority and I volunteer as room parent to show appreciation to the teacher and to show interest in my child's education. God, you're despicable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I contribute with educative stuff every month and a heavy check. Don't worry, dear. I appreciate I'm not invited to your crappy parties. I have enough of the good ones.

Do you tell your kids not to participate in the party then? If you don't contribute and your kids participate than you are being cheap and mean spirited. When I was class parent the most we asked for was between $5 and $7. Why should other parents pay for your snowflake?

Are you able to read well, OP? You sound like the annoying uneducated room mom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - we do use sign up genius for volunteering and added a few things to bring (tablecloths, etc) but the money goes to buy the food and decorations, make the crafty stuff for the kids to do (other room parent handling this - I'm supposed to deal with the money and logistics which I'm clearly not doing that well

I like the colored paper with envelope idea - can try that! But do I only give it to the people who didn't pay yet?

This is more complicated than I anticipated..

Yes only to the people who didn't pay but no need to advertise it to everyone. Just label and have the teacher give it to the kids.

[Anonymous]

Because they are busy and forgot. I honestly opened this thread and then thought to myself, "CRAP! I forgot about the letter that came home last week asking for money for class parties" LOL! (FCPS, not APS) I had a Girl Scout overnight camping trip Saturday night, and was traveling for work Sunday-Tuesday. Send a couple reminders. People are busy. Also, I have more than one kid in more than one school. I get 5-10 emails a DAY between the various schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I contribute with educative stuff every month and a heavy check. Don't worry, dear. I appreciate I'm not invited to your crappy parties. I have enough of the good ones.

Do you tell your kids not to participate in the party then? If you don't contribute and your kids participate than you are being cheap and mean spirited. When I was class parent the most we asked for was between $5 and $7. Why should other parents pay for your snowflake?

Are you able to read well, OP? You sound like the annoying uneducated room mom.

Huh? I didn't write anything you're responding to. -OP

[Anonymous]

Op ~ there will always be a % of people who don't contribute. It's silly not to expect this. Doesn't matter the reason. You should plan on 50% and be happy if 75 -80% contribute.

This. Op is now too concerned regarding the few that haven't contributed. They are on her mind. The extra money from a few families is a lot less important than having this be a thing.

[Anonymous]

Op,

Send a note directly to the parents who have not given or send a reminder. Then let it go. No matter how you view it, this is voluntary. If you know some of the parents, you could mention ypu did not collect as much as planned and see if they offer to pitch in more. I gladly would. I always think I should be a room mom and them I am so glad I am not. People complain no matter what you do. I appreciate the mom's that put forth the effort. And dads of course.

It is odd that you are collecting for party supplies, maybe emphasize that in the reminder email. All of our collections are for the teacher, parents donate the party stuff. Man, I would love it if the room mom got all the stuff. I have o problem buying crap, but sometimes getting it to the school when you have a bus rider is a logistical challenge. So make sure they know that this is for everything.

I think you can tell by some of the replies, no matter what you do, you will not get money from everyone. If you are brave enough to do this next year, ask for more per head.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because they are busy and forgot. I honestly opened this thread and then thought to myself, "CRAP! I forgot about the letter that came home last week asking for money for class parties" LOL! (FCPS, not APS) I had a Girl Scout overnight camping trip Saturday night, and was traveling for work Sunday-Tuesday. Send a couple reminders. People are busy. Also, I have more than one kid in more than one school. I get 5-10 emails a DAY between the various schools.

You aren't that busy and if you are its by choice. You put the money in if you have it as you read the note and return it. Don't dump it in a pile of papers and expect omen to chase you for it. I just covered the difference. I'm not chasing anyone. You know if you are not a new parent about these requests/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op,

Send a note directly to the parents who have not given or send a reminder. Then let it go. No matter how you view it, this is voluntary. If you know some of the parents, you could mention ypu did not collect as much as planned and see if they offer to pitch in more. I gladly would. I always think I should be a room mom and them I am so glad I am not. People complain no matter what you do. I appreciate the mom's that put forth the effort. And dads of course.

It is odd that you are collecting for party supplies, maybe emphasize that in the reminder email. All of our collections are for the teacher, parents donate the party stuff. Man, I would love it if the room mom got all the stuff. I have o problem buying crap, but sometimes getting it to the school when you have a bus rider is a logistical challenge. So make sure they know that this is for everything.

I think you can tell by some of the replies, no matter what you do, you will not get money from everyone. If you are brave enough to do this next year, ask for more per head.

I'd much rather parents send in stuff.