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[quote=Anonymous]I felt the same way last year, OP. I just felt like I was coming apart at the seams. I was doing PTA stuff, activity stuff, and neighborhood stuff. I decided this year to do none of it. Just for a year. It's been amazing. And I've learned two things:

(1) It's okay for different people to do the legwork at different times. It's okay to take a break. Sometimes I feel guilty about not doing more this year, but I remind myself that I've done a lot in the past. I'm not freeloading, I'm taking a break. It's okay to take a break.

(2) Some of that stuff really is make work and it's okay if it doesn't happen. Like there is one event that I used to run for the PTA and this year we didn't do it because I told them I couldn't do it and no one else wanted to take it on. And you know what, it was fine. I don't even think it's going to impact year end fundraising totals. So I might not do ever again, and it's honestly a huge relief.

I think PTAs and volunteer orgs can make some shifts to require less of parents, fewer volunteer hours, fewer random activities. We can streamline and do less, but try to do the things we continue to do as well as possible, and also as efficiently as possible.

Everyone is tired. So many people are burnt out. This year has been such a gift and it was one that was desperately needed after the Covid years. I want it for everyone. So my recommendation is: just stop. Take some time off. Get back into a good place and then see what you really want to do. I'm looking forward to getting back into some of this next year. But it will be less than I did before. I'm going to say no more often.[/quote]

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