Den Mother in Training
Last year was a very tough year for me to be really involved in my daughter’s first grade class, for a few reasons:
- I work, and the last school year was particularly intense at my job.
- I don’t tend to relate well to the moms who are uber-involved with the school activities, try as I might. I can’t explain it – but I just don’t. (It could be that I feel like an oddball among the moms who are not in the same boat as me, and that even though they’re friendly to me, it’s in a guarded fashion that excludes me from Silpada parties, etc. Not that I’m complaining about THAT! Or, I’m just paranoid because I don’t quite fit the suburba-mom template.)
- I realized two years ago that I had a difficult time saying “no,” and got into many pickles because of it. I kind of went on “yes” strike for a little bit.
My very favorite Anne Taintor magnet, which helped me realize I had a volunteering problem...
Well, I’m a recovering overzealous volunteer. Tonight, when I circled the table signing forms, I saw that one of the few blank spaces on the Valentine’s Day party was for the party planner.
Seriously? We were late. We were on the tail-end of the open house, and SuperMoms are usually there in the beginning. Clearly, this was a sign.
The pen hovered above the black line as I tried to talk myself out of it. Then I remembered, I’m trying to break my own mold these days and try something new.
Next step: Book MONTHLY checkpoints on my Outlook calendar. If I can’t pull this thing off in six months, I am a major loser. 
Ah, it is nice to read what you wrote. Yes, I feel awful that I CAN'T be at some school things… I work FULL TIME- as well as 12 1/2 hour shifts at that. I cannot be present for a lot of school things, yet I always feel guilty. When I get home at 12 30 am, after work, it is hard enough to drive my child to school, as well as walk in and be the "house mother" . I envy mothers that can and do this, yet I don't relate either, and never have. I feel like an absentee parent, yet I read what you have written and it makes me feel better. Keep on blogging my friend!