I'm in total agreement with nonsequitur. I am a stay-at-home mom of three and for years, I have been the "over-achiever" trying to schedule my life around everything pertaining to "the good of the school." It has taken me many years and many hardships to realize that life is so very short and you can't do it all! Why would you want to? If some of these parents who are trying to "save the world" would just step back and reflect, they would see that it is just not possible! My epifany brought me to the realization that as I was "doing everything," in reality I was accomplishing "nothing" because my priorities were "out of whack!" What I realized the most was how the many fundraising events and meetings were actually taking me away from my husband and children...who was I really "doing it all for?" After ten years, and countless numbers of potential new parents unable to pick up the reigns (who are we to presume why), my "martyr days" are over and I'm less stressed for it. I can't "save the world" because my life's priorities have changed and because "I just can't!" Now, instead of stressing over the next fundraiser and who may or may not step up, I raise my hand for the smaller (less recognized but just as important) events that don't exhaust all of my energy and time. Now, all I can do is laugh and vent with my friends (and chat with all of you) because ironically, some people are having new problems with me and my acceptance of a more "relaxed" life style. :confused:
Don't sweat the small stuff because you just can't win! [img]smile.gif[/img]

I feel your pain. I haven't posted in the last month because of all the time and frustration I was feeling with PTO. We had a lot of bad weather in January which postponed some big things to now as well as the things that were already scheduled to happen now. In addition, as president I'm busy this time of year with nominating committee, budget formulation for next year, etc., etc. I reached my point of no return and told the 1st VP and 2nd VP you need to handle A, B and C because I just can't do anymore. You know what? They did it and did it VERY well! (Probably better than I would have.) Long story short, sometimes we just have to be human, see our limits and trust others. Good luck!

Oh, I wish I could rant. Unfortunately it doesn't help me.

But instead I'll say this: we only have so much time and energy while there are (seemingly) infinite numbers of good things we can be involved in. The only way to be happy is to put the first things first and realize that if something you've missed is important enough to someone, they will pick it up.

DITTO - we can usually get the same 7-10 volunteers - but just try to get anyone to take on even a little bit of responsibility - forget it. Then when we did get someone to chair the santa shop - she just left the last day leaving our secretary to do the inventory and the bill was sent to her home (because the reorders were shipped there)she never brought it to me - I had to call the company and ask if they were going to invoice us. Sometimes it is easier to just do it yourself-but then comes burn out. For next year I am going to ask our principal if we can host a special night for kindergarten families (before back to school day - registration). Maybe an ice cream social - with pto spirit items, market day samples, pretty much a pto love fest.
I think part of the problem is that there are so many families with both parents working they just don't want to give the time.

Parsons Mom - We are getting ready to face a similar problem, not because our voluneers are giving up, but rather they are all "graduating". Almost every single active parent has a third grader. I would consider going to specific teachers (you know the ones who are more involved than others), find out which parents have been active in their room (regardless of their involvement in your pto), and then approach that parent directly. State your situation, mention that they were highly recommended (the gush factor really works here), and see if they would temporarily take over the project or help complete the project. That is what we are having to do in an effort to fill almost all of our committee positions for next year and it's been quite successful. We are getting a lot of dependable people who want to be involved, but are uninterested in attending meetings on a regular basis.

I'm planning our schools carnival.....and I can't seem to get the parents off their hind-ends for anything. When I formed the committee I had 2 people show up. I sent out a letter saying if more did not volunteer to be on the committee then we would have to cancel the carnival. We assign a game to each classroom and have the headroom parent call the parents in that class to work 30 mins each for the game (there is on 8 spots to fill and almost 30 kids in each class) simple right? NOT!! The forms were due Monday and its Friday and only half of them are in regardless of a note sent home to all parents and a personal phone call from me to each roomparent who hasn't turned it in. I was told by all they'd be in this week......ha! So tommorrow I get to go and waste my time and make more personal phone calls basically saying if they are not in by Monday that game will be closed. It sucks to make threats but sometimes if parents can't comprehend the first time, the second time, and the third time....you gotta do what you gotta do to do your stuff.