In August, I volunteered at my daughter’s old elementary school, handing out back-to-school packages. Excitement and anxiety filled the halls as children and parents made their way to classrooms.
In the commotion, a boy taller than me came over and asked, “Do you remember me?” “Of course,” I said loudly, and a smile appeared on his face. “Wow,” he said. “You always planned the best class parties. I miss those,” he said as he walked down the hall with his sister, now in fifth grade.
When I had a list of volunteer opportunities in front of me, I was tempted to help at my daughter’s elementary school instead of her middle school. From understanding the lasting impact I have to making to giving my daughter space during her teenage years, I have many reasons.
The school gave me a place to communicate
For my husband and I, our family is primarily in the Midwest and Coastal Carolinas, so the day-to-day ups and downs of parenting fall squarely on our shoulders.
The more time I spent in the school building, the more comfortable I felt relying on the staff in this “done” childcare environment.
Whether a teacher asks me how my daughter is doing or sees me getting out of a difficult conversation, I know they are “family” I can go to.
Volunteer service helps me honor my parents
Looking back on my elementary school days, my mother is at the center of those memories, volunteering as much as she could. Meanwhile, my dad was always the one grabbing the catcher’s glove to warm up the pitchers or donating his time to the Lions Club and other local organizations.
Time spent in school also led to some gainful employment, the author said. Courtney Johnson.
My parents always emphasized that the best way to express gratitude is to take the time. After losing my mom suddenly in February, it became even more important to me to give myself time. Every inbox I checked into, email I sent, or event I volunteered for made me feel close to her.
Me and my OG mom friend
There’s something to be said about your first parenting friends, those friends you make as you begin a new chapter in your life. Those first friends met over story time, going to the gym, etc. and became my first natural friends while starting motherhood in a new town away from my family.
As our kids grow up and go off in new directions, opportunities to connect with our OG friends become fewer and fewer. Currently, volunteering at an elementary school gives me the opportunity to connect with some OGs without having to schedule something months in advance. Yes, the faces of some of the volunteer moms I see at the school are slowly changing, but for now it’s still a place where I feel familiar and comfortable
Volunteering brings some jobs
When my daughter was in preschool, I started volunteering weekly to help build a bridge between me and the teachers. Instead of walking around with a resume, I found it natural to talk to teachers in the halls and studios about my past teaching experiences.
I quickly became the go-to sub, so I was constantly getting text messages saying, “Hey, are you available to sub on such-and-such date?” Without wanting to go back to teaching full-time, subbing allowed me to still get help from teachers and have the flexibility to pursue other interests.
Since opportunities to volunteer and make an impact are limited at the middle school level, I will continue to volunteer at my daughter’s old elementary school. Whether I’m sharing my passion for hiking and travel guides with students or handing out packages on back-to-school night, I fill my glass during school time without missing out on time with my daughter.