TNMom, believe me, I can certainly understand your frustration. I have been there, I am there now, and I'm sure as long as I continue to volunteer, I will always revisit. Somethings that I have learned,usually the hard way, but they have helped me to see some different views are~ something could have been done with prior PTO officers/members that have caused a ripple with the office staff (or any staff for that matter) that is why I choose to do the Kill 'em with kindness act. Then I am not lowering myself to the standards of playing the same kind of games that they are. Give them the benefit fof the doubt on some things, I've learned from experience the longer a person has been at that office job, the nastier than can become (not always, but in the case I am thinking of it is certainly so. Thank goodness we have a new secretary this year!) Remember what it is like dealing with some of the parents we deal with during fun events and fundraisers, now imagine having to deal with the same parents, some on a daily basis. I have a couple that would turn me into a green eyed monster real quick!
Secondly, the one that I hate the most is just because someones is nice/nasty to you, doesn't mean that they are the same way when your back is turned. You have to be your own person, stand up for what you believe in and just pick and choose your battles. Some of the small battles won't mean as much as winning the war. The war signifying all that PTO's and PTA's, volunteers everywhere are making a difference in the lives of many children and adults. My husband thinks it is too much when we go away and I end up getting hugs and taps on the back from little kids, he gets the biggest kick hearing them tell their parents how they know me. They all have a different way of remembering the activity that I did with them.
We are having a rough year dealing with lack of volunteers, a new principal, and some other issues, and whenever I have a bad day and ask myself why I do it, I pop in the tape of our PTO Talent Show, and that always reminds me, why.....it's for the kids.
I can sure understand your frustrations, cause I am feeling them to. Remember, I'm the one that feels like we aren't a Parent Volunteer group but rather a bank. Email me and we can share war stories. Who knows maybe we can even help each other find some solutions!
Just know that what you are doing is great and that you are making a difference. Take a mental break and you'll get yourself through it and you'll be back to do it all again next year. We all will be, because we care about kids, otherwise we wouldn't be here (really now, if we didn't care about kids, I'm sure we'd be hanging out somewhere besides a PTO bulletin board.) But we are all hoping that there is some group somewher who is going to share the magical secret, and let me tell you, I am very excited about some of the ideas I have gotten here. I can wait to utilize them.
Hang in there!
