Courtesy of Jamie Davis Smith
At the beginning of every school year, a familiar email lands in my inbox. A desperate member of the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), always a mom, sends an earnest plea begging caregivers to take on the mostly thankless role of room parent. I have four children who have attended various schools over the past 14 years, and the call for help is always the same.
The tasks associated with being a room parent are so dreaded that sometimes the mom needs to send the same email three or four times before all spots are filled. After a particularly anguished call for volunteers one year, I reluctantly took on the role. Now, I’ve been a room parent for over 10 years for one child or another. I just volunteered to be a room parent for my son’s class for the seventh year in a row. It’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it.
My tasks as a room parent are sometimes uncomfortable
As a room parent, I often need to ask other parents to donate their time and money several times a year. This never gets easier. It’s a constant struggle to figure out how much to ask for and when.
Multiple times a year, I’m required to send out urgent fundraising appeals on behalf of the PTA. I also need to solicit funds from other parents for field trips, classroom supplies, and gifts for teachers.
Sometimes, I need to remind parents to send in money for the book fair or purchase a ticket for the school carnival, suggesting upgrades like a bracelet that includes unlimited cotton candy. At other times, I ask parents to attend in person to help run activities during parties, staff field day, or chaperone field trips. I often imagine other parents opening up their email and thinking, “Not another request from her.“
While some parents at my son’s school can afford to give their time and money generously, not everyone can. I know that some parents unnecessarily feel a twinge of guilt when they ask if anyone can send photos of a class event to the school’s WhatsApp group. Others probably feel ashamed when I ask for donations and they don’t have room in their budget to contribute. I hate being a small part of making other parents feel this way, but it comes with the territory.
Courtesy of Jamie Davis Smith
Sometimes it feels like I am constantly on call
I perform room parent duties at least once or twice a week. Although I can do most of these tasks from home, they are still time-consuming, disrupt the flow of my day, and add additional tasks to my already too-long to-do list.
During busier times of year, including Teacher Appreciation Week and the weeks leading up to the school’s annual auction, my workload is even heavier. Sometimes, I feel like I am on call to answer teachers’ questions about whether we have enough class funds to purchase costumes for the class play or to send out a time-sensitive email about an upcoming event.
Additionally, other parents sometimes reach out to me with questions, gripes, and even outlandish requests, such as sending out birthday invitations to their child’s birthday party for them, since I had access to the class list. I never know when room parent duty will call, which can be stressful as a working mom of four.
Despite the workload, I wouldn’t give up my role
After serving as a room parent for over a decade, I understand why so many parents shy away from the role. Nevertheless, I have no plans to stop doing it. It’s a meaningful way to be involved in the school community, and the role comes with some perks.
I have additional contact with my child’s teacher, which gives me insight into what’s happening in the classroom. I get to know the parents of other children in my son’s class more easily since I quickly became the go-to parent for questions.
Being a room parent is also a lot of fun. I get to choose the activities for class parties, a task my son particularly loves. He is partial to decorating themed cookies, and I get to ensure that his favorite activity is always offered.
I usually receive advance notice of field trips, which helps me clear my schedule so that I can chaperone as many as possible. I also get to help choose our class’s contribution to the school auction and love enlisting my children to come up with fun themes, such as a cherry blossom picnic and family game night.
Being a room parent isn’t always easy, but it’s rewarding and valuable. I have no regrets and wish more parents would raise their hands to pitch in.
The post I’ve been a room parent for over a decade. I’ve gotten some outlandish requests, and it’s mostly thankless, but it’s worth it. appeared first on Business Insider.
