Volunteering

I come from a long line of volunteers.  My mother is one of the most active volunteers you will ever meet, and my sister is very involved as well.  It's just what we do.  It's how we grew up.  Something needs done then you just do it.  There are so many benefits; however when it becomes a source of stress I have to wonder why I'm doing it.

This has been particularly true lately.  I am a Sunday School volunteer for our church.  I don't teach a class, but I need to be there at 9:00 in order to take attendance and help out as needed as an extra adult.  Last year I did it every 4-6 depending on how things fell.  That wasn't a problem as there were several of us who were willing to help.  This year I am doing it twice a month (although Andrew is helping so I can sleep a little more).  I've been asking people to help out, and I'm not getting any response.  One woman finally agreed to help, but when I contacted her to set a schedule, she never responded.  She finally did, and I asked her to let me dates when she wasn't available.  I then set up a schedule accordingly, and she let me know that date wasn't going to work.  It wasn't one of the dates that she had listed....aaaaaagh!  I was able to get someone else, but I've asked her to please take one of the remaining dates and haven't heard back.  I am desperate for people for next year.  My kids no longer need to attend 9:00 Sunday school next year (high schoolers meet after service), and I'm not interested in doing it 2+ times a month.  I am happy to do it once, but I would like to think others will step up.

Band has been another huge chore.  This week we have our annual "Sweet Music" event.  Two weeks ago at our meeting I said that I would handle getting the supplies, and would make arrangements to get the signup and advertising email sent out.  Early last week I began the chain of emails to our board in order to set these things in motion.  I wasn't hearing back from anyone, so finally I contacted the signup person directly.  At the end of last week she finally responded with a draft of how things could look, and some changes were suggested.  The communications volunteer was copied on all of these emails.  Nothing was happening from her.  Finally on Friday, I sent a specific email both to her work and her home email.  I heard nothing.  Three days later, I finally decided to just sit down and do it myself.  Of course, she has the software to put together nice emails and that software has the email list already entered.  I was going to have to do it all manually, and I didn't really know what I was doing.  I finally sat down yesterday afternoon, after not hearing from her, and put it together.  It took me well over an hour.  My first several attempts at making it happen didn't work, and I could've cried when I finally got it put together like I wanted and it actually sent it out in the correct format.

I'll be honest, I'm tired of spending my time on these things.  We have an entire board who is supposed to handle things, and yet I often feel as though I am the one that ends up handling way too much.  During the marching season, we do have parents who help out with the physical logistics of the band themselves, but if it doesn't directly involve their child performing they don't want to be involved.  I don't have any kid performing in the event this week, just like I didn't have one performing in jazz/chili supper last fall.  I had told everyone that I wouldn't be able to be at the event last fall, but that isn't how it happened.  I have to deliver the money items, and usually many, many other things, so it's not like I can just not show up.  I am always the first one to arrive at these things and the last one to leave.  Last year, even the band directors left before I did!

I know this is nothing but a whiny rant, and I should be ashamed of myself.  It's just frustrating.  I have a husband and kids at home who need things from me just like everyone else does.  While it isn't full time, I have a job as well.  I hate the fact that I have missed other things with my kids because I'm at an event with other people's kids...and those parents aren't helping one bit.  I know that someone needs to do it and I probably do have more time than many, but I'm frustrated that it always ends up being me.  I want my kids to know that I am there for them and they are the most important things in the world to me.  I try to take on volunteer activities that involve them so that it is time together...which is why I don't understand why other parents can't help.

Off my soapbox now...life goes on and I'm truly blessed.  I shouldn't forget that...but I shouldn't be taken advantage of either!  😊