Burn it, to Earn it!
Gunny Sack racing on Track and Field Day
This year I’m signing up to help with Track and Field Day and here’s why.
I learned that it takes a Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering to use the copy machine, and I studied artsy stuff in school. Those machines also require patients that rival His Holiness The Dalai Lama. Copy Mom just ain’t me. I have to leave that job to the technical and/or patient folks.
PTO, yeah that requires interacting with adult people…on a regular basis! Again—not my strong suit.
I know they need parents to help administer standardized tests, but since I don’t really believe in exactness and stringent rules that one isn’t really a match either. “You may pick up your pencil NOW!” “And STOP!” I think the military is more lax.
There’s cafeteria crew, but the smell gets me every time.
And I think you have to be smart to qualify for math helper.
So where can an olfactory challenged, slacker parent with no social skills who does math on her fingers help out around the school? Don’t worry, I found my comfort zone outside (and your kids won’t be negatively affect by my volunteering.)
I choose to help with Track and Field Day because to quote Ralphie from The Simpsons, “That’s where I’m a Viking!”
I remember living for Track and Field Day. I remember winning the long jump and the high jump every year. (Which may or may not have had something to do with the fact that I was always the tallest kid.) For a kid who was spends her time in the lowest reading group, finally winning something felt awesome. That’s why I help with Track and Field Day. I want every kid to win sometimes.
Another great thing about Track and Field is that it’s held outside so that invisible force field can’t affect you. You know the one that sucks your energy when you enter the school?
Seven years ago I muscled through the force field and found a second comfort zone as the art parent. I teach art because I love to see kids get a win. I agree with the sociologist Charles Horton Cooley who said,
“An artist cannot fail; it is a success to be one.”
Every classroom I’ve been in is filled with creative geniuses, and that makes volunteering a thrill.
So this year, commit to find your comfort zone and rock it.
I'm Signing Up To _____, And Here's Why! I’m joining VolunteerSpot’s Back To School campaign to help raise visibility for parent involvement in schools.
Save time {and stress} and get more parents involved
at school with VolunteerSpot.com!
VolunteerSpot's FREE online signup sheets make it easy to organize parents and signup to help for just about anything: classroom helpers, snack schedules, carnivals, library volunteers, parent-teacher conferences and more…. No more 'Reply-All' email chains! Please share with your room mom, teachers and parent leaders…
Plus there's a huge Sweepstakes on VolunteerSpot's Facebook page!
Win an iPad for YOU and a $500 for your fave School! Enter here
