Anonymous
Post 07/12/2023 21:14     Subject: Families that never volunteer - swim team
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I’m a single working mom and I have 2 swimmers. The team wanted 6 spots filled, per swimmer, per family. That would have been 12 spots. We aren’t even able to make all the meets, so that isn’t going to happen. I don’t remember what might happen if I can’t do all the slots. Also we’re new and I didn’t realize everyone signed up for their slots right away, and by the time I went in a day later, most were taken. So far I’ve been able to fill 4.
If I end up having to pay, then I’ll pay.


So, I'm the person who asked for stories. Thank you for this story!

My team has families like this. They're trying to volunteer, they're just new. They apologize for not filling enough shifts. They are generally helpful. If they see someone lugging things across the parking lot and they bring kids over to help carry. The notice when the mom running concessions has a three year old doing the potty dance next to her, and ask if she wants them to take over for a while. They don't come to a potluck breakfast or potluck dinner empty handed, they bring SOMETHING even if it's a few bunches of bananas or the napkins. They say "Thank you" and make their kids say "Thank you".

No one cares that they didn't quite make their total number of shifts. We know they'll do better when they know how things work, and their kids are a little older. They aren't the ones we all get annoyed with. At least at my team, you wouldn't get kicked off.


+1 Same here. There are always some parents who have multiple little kids and are in your situation or maybe they work all the time at a job that does not allow them to make the hours for the meets. Most find a way to be helpful and over the years it does even out. The first year I barely filled our minimum, but then another year during covid when things were more relaxed at work for a while for me but not for others I was able to do 3x as much. Our team really wants people to volunteer but if you really can't they are understanding. You would be fine PP.
Anonymous
Post 07/12/2023 21:12     Subject: Families that never volunteer - swim team
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I have 3 shrimpers and a baby and a husband that works in another state so I truly cannot volunteer at meets but I guarantee you I donate more money than any other family.


give me a break. You're not more special than anyone else. do you not attend the meets? Are you dropping three kids off to swim at a meet and they have no supervision or parental support? it is not hard: hire a teen and pay what the going rate is. $18-$20 an hour for 4 hours on Saturday mornings or Monday nights or whenever. this is not a hard problem to solve.



Please don’t guarantee you donate more than others. It has nothing to do with chipping in and you don’t even know if you’re right.


Let's be real, the kids probably have babysitters all week. Sometimes donating money helps the team more depending on the team. They are probably either dropping the 1-2 kids off and letting it be the team's problem or all kids go and she sits there and hangs out. No one wants to watch 2-3 kids for $20 an hour.


You misunderstood. Hire a teen for $20 an hour to do your volunteering. 100% of my kids’ friend would do this: timing, marshal, etc. they’d earn $80 before lunch.


You cannot be a timer and swim at the same time. The meets are for the kids to have fun. Be a grown up and find a way to volunteer or buy your way out. We all know those kind of parents. They call the rest of us to demand we drive their kids to swim/activities as they are too busy or important to do it themselves or have to many kids and didn't think it through when they had those kids.


I agree with everything except I think it’s perfectly fine to pay a teen to take your spot so you’re chipping in and helping on behalf of your family. What’s not okay is to just not do it and be a mooch.
Anonymous
Post 07/12/2023 21:09     Subject: Families that never volunteer - swim team
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I have 3 shrimpers and a baby and a husband that works in another state so I truly cannot volunteer at meets but I guarantee you I donate more money than any other family.



I have been there. When I got pregnant with my fourth, the plan was for me to SAH, but by the time the baby was born, things happened that he had to do some additional training 900 miles away while I stayed at home, took care of the kids, and financially supported my family.

It was only one year, but it was a hard year. Anytime I had free time, I slept.

I feel for you. Kids will get older and more independent! Take care!


Right, but these types of families don’t sign their kids up for summer swim team. The volunteer requirements are spelled out in advance. Our team does not allow paying your way out of volunteering.


That's sad that it's exclusive to privileged families.


The alternative is for it to not exist for anyone. I don’t think volunteering is privileged. It is the exact opposite.
Anonymous
Post 07/12/2023 21:00     Subject: Families that never volunteer - swim team
We belong to a pool and my kids are teens now. They would love to be hired for $$ to do your volunteer hours. I think this is a fantastic solution for all. Ask your pools to post this somewhere as an option and you will get lots of offers. Their friends would do this too.

They never joined swim team when they were young because they didn’t want to get up early every single day and I didnt want to volunteer. Now I like reading the annual complaint thread.
Anonymous
Post 07/12/2023 20:23     Subject: Families that never volunteer - swim team
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Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I have 3 shrimpers and a baby and a husband that works in another state so I truly cannot volunteer at meets but I guarantee you I donate more money than any other family.



I have been there. When I got pregnant with my fourth, the plan was for me to SAH, but by the time the baby was born, things happened that he had to do some additional training 900 miles away while I stayed at home, took care of the kids, and financially supported my family.

It was only one year, but it was a hard year. Anytime I had free time, I slept.

I feel for you. Kids will get older and more independent! Take care!


Right, but these types of families don’t sign their kids up for summer swim team. The volunteer requirements are spelled out in advance. Our team does not allow paying your way out of volunteering.


That's sad that it's exclusive to privileged families.


Bring it up with the league, then.
Anonymous
Post 07/12/2023 20:16     Subject: Families that never volunteer - swim team
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I have 3 shrimpers and a baby and a husband that works in another state so I truly cannot volunteer at meets but I guarantee you I donate more money than any other family.



I have been there. When I got pregnant with my fourth, the plan was for me to SAH, but by the time the baby was born, things happened that he had to do some additional training 900 miles away while I stayed at home, took care of the kids, and financially supported my family.

It was only one year, but it was a hard year. Anytime I had free time, I slept.

I feel for you. Kids will get older and more independent! Take care!


Right, but these types of families don’t sign their kids up for summer swim team. The volunteer requirements are spelled out in advance. Our team does not allow paying your way out of volunteering.


That's sad that it's exclusive to privileged families.
Anonymous
Post 07/12/2023 19:58     Subject: Families that never volunteer - swim team
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Time to start hiring people volunteering is not possible with us millennials working triple jobs


You aren't working triple jobs and be real, if they hired people do you realize what they'd have to charge for team and most families aren't willing to pay that. Part of team is everyone pitching in.


Parenting counts as a job, am I right SAHMs?!?


Sure and one that you can hire someone to do for a few hours so you can volunteer!


Sounds like a dumb way to spend my money!
Anonymous
Post 07/12/2023 19:58     Subject: Families that never volunteer - swim team
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I have 3 shrimpers and a baby and a husband that works in another state so I truly cannot volunteer at meets but I guarantee you I donate more money than any other family.



I have been there. When I got pregnant with my fourth, the plan was for me to SAH, but by the time the baby was born, things happened that he had to do some additional training 900 miles away while I stayed at home, took care of the kids, and financially supported my family.

It was only one year, but it was a hard year. Anytime I had free time, I slept.

I feel for you. Kids will get older and more independent! Take care!


Right, but these types of families don’t sign their kids up for summer swim team. The volunteer requirements are spelled out in advance. Our team does not allow paying your way out of volunteering.
Anonymous
Post 07/12/2023 19:56     Subject: Families that never volunteer - swim team
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I have 3 shrimpers and a baby and a husband that works in another state so I truly cannot volunteer at meets but I guarantee you I donate more money than any other family.


give me a break. You're not more special than anyone else. do you not attend the meets? Are you dropping three kids off to swim at a meet and they have no supervision or parental support? it is not hard: hire a teen and pay what the going rate is. $18-$20 an hour for 4 hours on Saturday mornings or Monday nights or whenever. this is not a hard problem to solve.

Please don’t guarantee you donate more than others. It has nothing to do with chipping in and you don’t even know if you’re right.


Let's be real, the kids probably have babysitters all week. Sometimes donating money helps the team more depending on the team. They are probably either dropping the 1-2 kids off and letting it be the team's problem or all kids go and she sits there and hangs out. No one wants to watch 2-3 kids for $20 an hour.


You misunderstood. Hire a teen for $20 an hour to do your volunteering. 100% of my kids’ friend would do this: timing, marshal, etc. they’d earn $80 before lunch.


You cannot be a timer and swim at the same time. The meets are for the kids to have fun. Be a grown up and find a way to volunteer or buy your way out. We all know those kind of parents. They call the rest of us to demand we drive their kids to swim/activities as they are too busy or important to do it themselves or have to many kids and didn't think it through when they had those kids.
Anonymous
Post 07/12/2023 19:53     Subject: Families that never volunteer - swim team
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I have 3 shrimpers and a baby and a husband that works in another state so I truly cannot volunteer at meets but I guarantee you I donate more money than any other family.


give me a break. You're not more special than anyone else. do you not attend the meets? Are you dropping three kids off to swim at a meet and they have no supervision or parental support? it is not hard: hire a teen and pay what the going rate is. $18-$20 an hour for 4 hours on Saturday mornings or Monday nights or whenever. this is not a hard problem to solve.

Please don’t guarantee you donate more than others. It has nothing to do with chipping in and you don’t even know if you’re right.


Let's be real, the kids probably have babysitters all week. Sometimes donating money helps the team more depending on the team. They are probably either dropping the 1-2 kids off and letting it be the team's problem or all kids go and she sits there and hangs out. No one wants to watch 2-3 kids for $20 an hour.


You misunderstood. Hire a teen for $20 an hour to do your volunteering. 100% of my kids’ friend would do this: timing, marshal, etc. they’d earn $80 before lunch.
Anonymous
Post 07/12/2023 19:47     Subject: Families that never volunteer - swim team
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Time to start hiring people volunteering is not possible with us millennials working triple jobs


You aren't working triple jobs and be real, if they hired people do you realize what they'd have to charge for team and most families aren't willing to pay that. Part of team is everyone pitching in.


Parenting counts as a job, am I right SAHMs?!?


Sure and one that you can hire someone to do for a few hours so you can volunteer!
Anonymous
Post 07/12/2023 19:42     Subject: Families that never volunteer - swim team
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Time to start hiring people volunteering is not possible with us millennials working triple jobs


You aren't working triple jobs and be real, if they hired people do you realize what they'd have to charge for team and most families aren't willing to pay that. Part of team is everyone pitching in.


Check your privileges old Genx boomer
Anonymous
Post 07/12/2023 19:41     Subject: Families that never volunteer - swim team
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Time to start hiring people volunteering is not possible with us millennials working triple jobs


You aren't working triple jobs and be real, if they hired people do you realize what they'd have to charge for team and most families aren't willing to pay that. Part of team is everyone pitching in.


Parenting counts as a job, am I right SAHMs?!?
Anonymous
Post 07/12/2023 19:29     Subject: Families that never volunteer - swim team
Unemployed tit for tat types who act like martyrs when they volunteer are loathesome people.
Anonymous
Post 07/12/2023 19:29     Subject: Families that never volunteer - swim team
Anonymous wrote:Time to start hiring people volunteering is not possible with us millennials working triple jobs


You aren't working triple jobs and be real, if they hired people do you realize what they'd have to charge for team and most families aren't willing to pay that. Part of team is everyone pitching in.