Volunteer Mom Burnout

If you're a Super Mom, then you are most likely at school every day for prompt pick-up, and asking other moms how you can help out at school. In the mornings, after you pack a nutritious snack and lunch, you're in the classroom asking the teacher if you can help collate and staple. By the time May or June rolls around, if you're at all normal, you've finally hit the wall and are experiencing Volunteer Mom Burnout.

I'm a serial volunteer myself, and like clockwork, I find myself starting to shy from school activities, and just looking at a rice krispie square makes me cringe. Actually my poor husband has been doing the bulk of the drop-offs lately, simply because I just don't want to be seen (or found for fear of being asked to do something) . I often wonder if it's possible to get through the school year as a parent volunteer, and not have burnout in the remaining months. Typically there are still many worthwhile fundraisers and year-end events that are fun and beneficial to the school, yet it gets harder and harder to get help for these events.

The solution is to have clear expectations with yourself. You can only volunteer so much, bake so much, cut and paste so much before you blow a fuse. I am trying a new thing, it's called, "no". It's a useful word, and although I don't say it a lot in the volunteer realm, I am starting to learn that I simply can't be everywhere all the time. This most valuable word 'No" will be your saving grace, and will help you last the entire year. My husband helps me practice the chant every day now. "Just say no. Just say no."

It's OK to skip some school events. Pick a few that you really, really like and dedicate your time and best efforts to this. Not only will you feel more focused, but you will have the ability to make it all the way to the last day of school, and yes, the last day of school party. Heck, you may even have it in you to bake just a few more cupcakes.

Don't worry, after the summer break, your volunteer batteries will be recharged, and you'll be ready to overcommit all over again.