Well, Teacher Appreciation Week is right around the corner, so it's time for room mothers to get into full swing. Last year my friend and fellow lawyer-mommy (in fact, The Dude's mom), was room parent for our kids' class. This year, I volunteered.
Actually, in a fit of over-exuberance at the beginning of the year, I initially volunteered to be co-chair of the entire PTO. But when what I will call philosophical differences arose in early autumn, I deemed it best to bow out gracefully. I did volunteer to be The Boy's class's room mom, though, just not head of the whole she-bang.
Along the year, I've been impressed with various fund-raising efforts the PTO leadership has done, silent auctions and such. So I felt like my stepping aside was a good move. So I am loathe to complain.
But you know what's coming.... Here's where I start complaining:
We found out about what we're supposed to do for Teacher Appreciation Week yesterday evening. Teacher appreciation week starts a week from Monday (on May 13th). And some classes don't even have room parents yet! (In fact, The Boy and The Dude's class is listed as having no room parent and the powers that be have me assigned to the class those guys left three months ago, but I'm doing my kid's class, folks.)
We room parents are supposed to gather donations from other parents for teacher gifts, make a class wall decoration (using kids' pictures, which will also need to be provided by the parents), and put together (which includes shopping) gift baskets for the teachers. And, oh yeah, next weekend is Mother's Day, a traditionally family oriented holiday, but never mind.
Holy Last Minute Assignments, Batman!
I mean, it's not to say that I can't do it, because I can. But a little more time to plan, shop, do a little art project, and get all the stuff assembled from the other parents, would have been nice. Particularly when you consider that I've got depositions to take regarding one matter and trial of another matter planned for the same time period....
But, hey, who knows, maybe the short timeframe will focus the mind and it will all turn out brilliantly.
Still, just a tip, friends: no parent, but especially not a working parent, wants to have a pile of tasks dropped on them at the last minute. So, all you PTO leaders out there, you know, plan accordingly.
