Volunteer at the kid’s school

“My bad experience volunteering. When my son started Pre-K I was all set to volunteer. I even asked my boss at work to not schedule me in the morning so that I could volunteer. To my dissapointment I was looked down at by the other moms. I was a young mother (20), I wasn't married ( I just recently got married at 29) and I worked full time (I had to support my child by myself). The "older" moms were so rude to me and loved to talk about me. Some even said that I was bad influence on the older girls at the school because I was a " a reallyyoung mom." So, I stopped. One year when my son was in third grade I decided once again to try this volunteering thing again. I went to go help out with the school carnival and this other mom volunteer comes up to me grabs my shoulders, looks me in the eyes and really slowly says to me DO YOU SPEAK ENGLISH???? ( I am hispanic and have lived here all my life) I looked at her and said Do you? I was so mad after that. I finished helping out that night and went home and never thought about volunteering again at that school. My son just started junior high and I am actually thinking of trying again.”

“Yeah, I am definitely not a joiner and the kind of parents you describe drive me nuts as well. However, when my kids were little I cannot begin to tell you how rewarding it was to be actively involved at their school. I got to know all the teachers, the administrators, and many of the other parents and kids. It absolutely enriched my kids’ experience at the school and mine as well. [...] I volunteered at the school’s free breakfast program, I chaperoned field trips, I participated in every school event (e.g., potluck dinners, the school fair, PTA chili dinner etc.), I went to all the PTA meetings, I occasionally went to the school at lunchtime and ate with the kids, I volunteered in my kids’ classrooms, and then I even went the true extra mile and renewed my teaching certificate and subbed at the school. I made sure to introduce myself to every school staff member and took every opportunity to chat them up. I was a known presence at that school, but I made sure not to be obnoxious about it. I was just super friendly and helpful. My kids — who are now 40 and 42 — still talk about what a wonderful experience they had going to that school and I’m so glad I got to be a part of it.”