Do you know the Volunteer Queen? Is it possible that you ARE the volunteer queen?
Well ask yourself this:
- How many times have you heard, “We just couldn’t do it without you?”
- Is your date book jammed with more projects, meetings and phone calls than a Fortune 500 exec?
- Between school, church, scouts, sports teams, community groups and all the rest, do you hold more than 3 officer positions?
(PLEASE tell me you aren’t president/chair/chief muckety muck of more than ONE!)
If that’s not you, it’s definitely me… or was anyway.
Need a volunteer to drive for the field trip? I’m in.
Need someone to help out in the classroom? No problem.
Bake muffins for the open house? yup.
Bring paper goods for the potluck? check..
Need someone to come early? Stay late? I’m there.
Organize? Coordinate? Got it covered…
My husband has said to me on more than one occasion, “For a stay-at-home mom, you’re not around very much!” And he’s right…
I’m thinking of starting a 12 step program for Volunteers Anonymous. We’d know that someone was really on the road to recovery when she DIDN’T volunteer to bring snacks!
Not that I think volunteerism is a bad thing- not at all. Schools,churches, scouts, sports teams and presidential campaigns could never function without them. And I’m oh so grateful for the many hours and amazing efforts that moms everywhere put into their volunteer projects.
Most moms I know volunteer because they want to make a positive difference in the world whether it’s through the school, church group, or other form of community service.
We get to use our skills and talents to make changes we want to see in the world.
But I see the underbelly of an addiction to volunteering. It feels great to hear someone sing your praises and feel like the hero.
I admit it, I love it!
Like anything else, when taken to excess, volunteering has it’s shadow side. Have you ever gotten in over your head and something that was supposed to be a fun and positive experience turns ugly?
More than once I’ve found myself muttering, “What WAS I thinking?”
This can happen when I end up with a role or job that doesn’t suit my temperament or talents.
I’ll bake cookies ’til the cows come home, but dear God, don’t ask me to sew anything.
I’ll write articles, newsletters, annual reports, etc., but I would rather chew glass than do data entry.
Or when I take on too many projects because they do suit me and sound like fun.
Two articles a newsletter and the annual report, by the end of the week… SURE!
At that point all the good vibes disappear in a fog of resentment. And by then, I’m SO not feeling the love!
Unfortunately for most of us cruising in the Mom Lane, going cold turkey isn’t really the answer.
Let’s face it, the world as we know it would cease to exist if mom volunteers pulled the plug.
Besides, it can be really rewarding and lots of fun to be involved in community life in this way.
But we need to know when to say when!
I’m not about to stop volunteering- just like I’m not going to stop drinking…. It’s all about moderation and choice.
So what about you? Are you a candidate for VA? What volunteer roles do you love and which could you do without?
