I just typed this to another parents and know it needs to be said here-
Ask your children how they feel about your involvement at school. Do they mind you being there all day. My oldest (11) just gave me the most incredible answer. " I love to see you at school, even if you have the boys with you."
Momof7- I will soon have 5 with the last three close together- I've been asked to run for Pesident again next year and simply said nursing and meetings are too hard to juggle but I'll be back! Otherwise my double stroller and Snuggy have seen A LOT of miles at school (what's bad is when the new parents start asking product questions instead if you need help!)
Spring Break will be here in almost 10 weeks!! Something to look forward too!
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After reading through all these posts...I've realized that nobody has any suggestions for us overworked, underappreciated, PTO officers!! I'm in the middle of my second term as President, after completing a year as vice-president and many years of being Room Mom.Oh and I'm also the registrar for my kids soccer league and I'm responsible for over 700 registrations. I have seen many bright new faces at the first meetings of the year but come January it is the same handful of people. Once again this year we are going to have to cancel our weekly popcorn sale because of the lack of volunteers. I have informed the membership that our Treasurer will not be here next year....her last child is leaving the school, our vice president does not want to run again, and that if I am forced to be President again my heart will not be in it...after the meeting I had a parent ask me when is the meeting to vote new officers in because we think you do a good job and want to make sure your voted back in...I'm like HELLO did you miss something!!
ADVICE GREATLY APPRECIATED!!! :eek:
sometimes i feel like giving up and wanted to
this week, our pto doesn't follow any organization and is truly a click organization-
but on friday i attended an awards program for
my daughters first grade, i know several of the
children and their was lack of parent there.
there were tears in one of the childs eyes
because he didn't have a parent there- his mother
works seconds and was unable to attend, knowing
this child i went over to comfort and the tears
went away. the school my child attends is not
a high income area and the children mostly
raise themselves. knowing that i can touch a
child heart and help them- keeps me going.
and the heck with all the crap the adults and i say that term loosly, that seem to do these things for personal gain or control, i know
where my heart, moral, values are. so when
the adminstration and lack of help or disagreements arive find a child and take a hard
look and remember why!
I am so glad to hear that we are not the only PTO that is going through burn out. It is not just us!
Hi! i am a mom of 7 and my youngest two are a 2 year old girl and 4 months old boy. I did not get time off for the baby! Last night I worked the concession stand at our home ball game with my 4 month old straped to my chest and my 13 year old son popping popcorn. No other parent would work. At half time a dad feeling sorry for me came in and started dishing out nachos.
We held a christmas shop and our principle shut us down half way through the week. Some of the eighth grade kids was acting out on the bus using items that they purchased at the shop. She informed me that the school is not here for us just sell things. Our meetings are often just myself (vice-pres) the president and one other mom. We have to beg to get the key to even get into the school to hold the meeting. We was told in Aug. to hold it outside on the picnic tables. We had a mom with a new born and I was preg.. It was not a nice meeting! The nights we get a key to get inside we are now not given the key to a room so we have to hold the meetings in the Gym on the bleachers which makes it very hard to hear anything that is being said. We have had several meetings in the janitors room being it was the only room open!
"Funny story": One night we was opening up the school for our meeting and had trouble getting the door to the alarm room open. The alarm goes off for a few seconds. We get it turned off and go on setting up in the janitors room for our meeting. We did not have a key to get to a phone and no one had brought their cell phone. We thought that seeing that no one came when it happend two months ago not to worry about the police. Picture this. A school with no lights on except a hall and one room. Four women setting around a card table in a janitors room and in come the police. We are asked for the pass word that we were not told. He asked why no one called after the alarm was turned off and we have to say we can't get to the phone they won't let us have THAT key!
I am thankful for this forum! I now know we are not alone!
Need some advice as how to stay cheerful and possitive durig times like these!
Hang in there! In a few years our kids will be grown and PTO will be only a memory from the past!
:eek:
Glad to hear I'm not the only one with the burn out! Thats why I haven't been to this site for a while. I've missed you all...I thought by putting things on the back burner, that they would go away. Not true - get a call from the school with something new to do.
Press88 said it best, about going to the school to get back in the grove. You are so right! Had to go to the school today and hadn't been there since Christmas. I remember now why I do this. Not just for my kids, but for all those others that touch my life.
Keep up the good work. And just blow off those trouble makers. Just think if they are giving you problems then you are saving someone else.
Hang in there tots!! I'm in my third year as an officer and ready to walk away....wait today I'm willing to run!! I'm actually looking forward to March when my new baby is due to get aome time away!!
The way our group stands I have myself and the VP. We have NO idea what happened to our Secretary and no one will run for Treas. The last meeting we held only 2 people showed up, the VP and me! We have a meeting tonight and interested to see how this goes! I have talked to the school board and we have to have a PTO per our charter with the district and was told this is good, everyone is happy with you! Man I want to piss off some people to get some help!! I was advised not to with a smile but MAN!!! I figure as long as the school staff isn't tired of me and will to do all those awsome little favors they do May will be here before I know it and so will my new baby!
I'm wondering how can my schedual be so much less important than the mom that has a paying job, four children with #5 arriving soon. I have a REAL hard time with hearing all the extra yuck parents like to offer.......
Hey, thank you for being so involved, really!
