Posts: 219
10/1/10 4:54 P

I decided not to attend the information session on the parent board at the school. I know if I went, I'd end up volunteering on it, so I just avoided the situation. I have enough on my plate and it's time that I focus on me. Seems so selfish, but when I try to juggle the job, my health, my family and the volunteering, something has to give. I may not have learned how to say 'no' yet - but I can just avoid the question and become a bit less available... that's what I'm going to do for now! Thanks for the opinions - discussing about how you don't have the time or the energy just reinforces the point - neither do I! I want to be helpful to others, but the best way for me to do that is start helping myself right now.

Posts: 3,461
9/21/10 10:58 A

Even though I would love to volunteer at my kid's school and after school activities, I don't. I also work 40 hours a week, sometimes a little more. My husband travels all the time on his job, so it's the kids and me half of the time. I just don't have the time or energy to volunteer. It really does upset me sometimes when DD asks me to volunteer at her ballet school. But, after working, cooking and cleaning, I just don't have the energy for anything else.

How do you all do it?

Posts: 4,583
9/20/10 10:02 A

I am not quite as adventurous as you are. I work outside the home 40+ hours a week for a major computer company, I have 1 8-year old son and a very busy husband. I have swim lessons twice a week at the YMCA for my son so while he learns to swim I hit the gym for some strength training. He also has guitar lessons on wednesday and the room is too small for 3 people so I walk while he practices. I volunteer for his classroom 1-3 hours per week and manage the food bank at our church. I just know my physical and mental limits so once I start to feel overwhelmed I just do a little less in the classroom.

Posts: 219
9/17/10 10:39 P

Well, I must admit it - I'm a serial volunteer-er. OK, not a real word - but you understand. I work full-time, I have two kids and they both participate in sports and extra activities, etc. Well, I'm part of the relevant school & daycare parent boards, I'm the head of the volunteer committee for my daughter's gymnastics and I've already received a special 'welcome to the team - what would you like to do?' email from my son's new hockey coach. I don't know. Sometimes I think I do too much, but then again, it keeps me out of the house (and out of the kitchen) and last time I volunteered, I became the soccer coach - running around a soccer field once a week with twelve six-year old kids... and that turned out to be a great way to get some exercise. How do I find the balance? What are the types of volunteering that you do and which ones have been your favourites?