When my kids were small I was incredibly involved in the PTA. It bordered on a little crazy. As they got older and got more involved in sports, I took a step back.
Now, I volunteer for the all PTA event we throw every year called LIVE. It is a fabulous event that requires much less work than being the PTA President ever did. LIVE 2015 is my swan song.
The advantages to being very involved was that I knew a lot of the staff. I also knew a lot of the "behind the scenes" stuff going on in the schools. I went to Board of Ed meetings when it was necessary. I spoke at a podium when the cause required it. I spent one winter very sick over things that were going on in an elementary school. I sat on hiring committees. I sat on strategic planning committees. I felt like I had a bat phone from my house to the district office.
I always tried to the best for the school, the community and my kids. I really did try to do all things with love. Sometimes my ego got in the way...
To quote Dickens, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way."
Cutting back on everything I did made me happier. It was better for me not to know the insider stuff. I entered the high school not knowing any teacher except my friend Debbie - and neither of my kids have ever had her.
In the past twenty four hours my phone and email have been chirping about things going in the the district. Things I didn't know about. Things I truly CAN'T do anything about.
I remember why I took a giant step backward.
And so, for my own sanity, I am making the decision to step away. To not get involved.
It feels kind of odd. It doesn't feel wrong, per se, just different. Sometimes, someone else needs to lead the charge.
So, if you have ever felt this way, know you are not alone. It's not easy to sit something out that you might be able to bring a voice of reason to. But sometimes, you have to listen to the voice of reason in your heart.
xo
Now, I volunteer for the all PTA event we throw every year called LIVE. It is a fabulous event that requires much less work than being the PTA President ever did. LIVE 2015 is my swan song.
The advantages to being very involved was that I knew a lot of the staff. I also knew a lot of the "behind the scenes" stuff going on in the schools. I went to Board of Ed meetings when it was necessary. I spoke at a podium when the cause required it. I spent one winter very sick over things that were going on in an elementary school. I sat on hiring committees. I sat on strategic planning committees. I felt like I had a bat phone from my house to the district office.
I always tried to the best for the school, the community and my kids. I really did try to do all things with love. Sometimes my ego got in the way...
To quote Dickens, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way."
Cutting back on everything I did made me happier. It was better for me not to know the insider stuff. I entered the high school not knowing any teacher except my friend Debbie - and neither of my kids have ever had her.
In the past twenty four hours my phone and email have been chirping about things going in the the district. Things I didn't know about. Things I truly CAN'T do anything about.
I remember why I took a giant step backward.
And so, for my own sanity, I am making the decision to step away. To not get involved.
It feels kind of odd. It doesn't feel wrong, per se, just different. Sometimes, someone else needs to lead the charge.
So, if you have ever felt this way, know you are not alone. It's not easy to sit something out that you might be able to bring a voice of reason to. But sometimes, you have to listen to the voice of reason in your heart.
xo
Ooh, we all want the same thing.
Ooh, we all run for something.
Oh for God, for fate,
For love, for hate,
For gold, and rust,
For diamonds, and dust.
http://youtu.be/m-j-n-XJ-Tg
Ooh, we all run for something.
Oh for God, for fate,
For love, for hate,
For gold, and rust,
For diamonds, and dust.
http://youtu.be/m-j-n-XJ-Tg
