Reply to If you don't join and/or volunteer in your school's PTA, please explain why

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Reply to "If you don't join and/or volunteer in your school's PTA, please explain why"

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[quote=Anonymous]I know it is not PC to say "I'm too busy" or "I'm busier than you"... but that really is how I feel.  Yes, it is absolutely a question of priorities.  The vast majority of PTA moms at my son's school stay at home.  It's not that I don't believe they're busy or working hard, but many of them have only school age children and (apparently) have every day between 9-3 "free" to do what they need to do.  While I'm sure some of them balance incredibly difficult things (perhaps sick parents, spouse with cancer, God only knows), I see many of them in their newly washed cars and perfectly coiffed hair, and I REALLY REALLY doubt they are as busy as I am.  If that makes me self-centered so be it.   If they want to make my son's school a better place, I am happy for it, as it benefits my son.  But the reality is that if not for the PTA, my son's school would still be fine, and I STILL would not be participating because I don't have time.  If I had an extra 6 hours in my day every day, I would probably get my car washed, join a gym, and play with my kids more FIRST... after that, I would happily donate some of my extra time to PTA.

So if you have "free" time, and you want to devote it to PTA - that's great.  I am grateful to you for your efforts.  But if push came to shove, and the choice was between ME doing PTA, or my son not having access to the extra programs, he would simply not have access, and I would be fine with that.

Honestly, I try to contribute 5-6 hours per year in the classroom, because I am more comfortable contributing directly in that capacity.  Part of what keeps me away from PTA functions is a fear that if I volunteer once (to put in a couple of hours at the school fair or whatever), that I will be fending off calls from frustrated/martyr moms for the rest of the year, pressuring me into doing something for the bake sale, or whatever the current "cause" is, and taking a lot of flack for not helping more.

For those of you who do PTA, I really do salute you.  I think in almost all cases, the school (and my son by extension) benefits from your work.  But I'd also encourage you to look at it as an endeavor you give your time to freely... or not at all... and stop the hostility towards moms who don't "contribute".  [/quote]

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