Ado Annie was right

I'm just a girl who can't say no. Not exactly like her, but I have a terrible time saying no people. You need someone to volunteer at a school event? Sure, I'll do it. You need someone to take over a PTA Chair position? Me! You need someone to watch your children? Absolutely!! Need help in the classroom every day for 2 weeks? What time do you need me? We need to organize meals for a soldier/spouse for 2-3 weeks? I'll send an email out right away! What's that? Your grandson will be visiting w/ his mother & you need an extra car seat? Yes, I have one--let me bring it to you! Need someone to call other Army wives to get info to them? Give me my list! Huh? One of the other callers flaked & you need someone to take on her 6 wives? I'll add them to mine!

I'm exhausted writing this. And I'm guilty of doing all of the above & then some. I don't know if it's my "must make sure everyone is happy ALL THE TIME" nature or whether it's some bizarre desire to control things. Probably both, but at the end of the day, I'm like Ado Annie --- I can't say no to people asking me to do things.

I was a FRG volunteer for almost all of Hunter's deployments & would rationalize my involvement as a way to stay informed, myself. During the last deployment, I enjoyed the other women who were actively involved so what better way to stay in contact with them? VOLUNTEER! The "highlight" of my inability to say no was to "lend" our extra car seat to a woman whose daughter was indeed visiting with the grandson & they needed a car seat. Did anyone have an extra one they could use. OF COURSE I DO! Because car seats are so inexpensive that really, why wouldn't you be lending them to everyone??! Especially another Army wife, right? The two weeks that she needed the seat quickly passed & my car seat was never returned. I called her, I went by her house, I emailed her. Nothing. I realize that it's all on her for basically stealing my car seat, but still. I willingly lent it to her. No, I gave it to her.

Fast forward to this year. I volunteer to be Co-Room Mom. Which honestly is so awesome. I really like the other Room Mom. We work well together & I think our class has had a great year thus far based on our efforts. And we absolutely ADORE Sunshine's teacher. I don't regret any of the time I've spent in her classroom & if I thought it would work, I'd totally start a petition to have her move up to 2nd grade only so Sunshine could be with her for another year. Seriously. But Room Moms have other obligations than just bringing snacks, planning parties, chaperoning field trips, helping in the class. There are various family nights at school where other parents don't step up to help out. So you have the same people manning the booths, games, rides, etc. And as a result, aren't able to enjoy the evening with their own family. Bitter? Yes. Because I'm just a girl who can't say no.

This past Friday was one of those nights. The Chair of the event wasn't able to get the number of volunteers that she needed through a local high school so we were calling on Room Moms & PTA volunteers to pitch in. Fine, I signed up for a half hour shift, figuring Hunter could bring Sunshine to school as my shift was ending so we could enjoy the rest of the evening as a family.

You know what they say about the best laid plans, right? On Thursday, as she was coming down the path, Sunshine decided to skip down the hill & fell. She hit her head on the metal hand rail & withing 30 seconds had a forehead that rivaled Frankenstein's. Honestly. I have witnesses & they will say the same thing. She was lucid as we sped to the ER & had an appetite so I wasn't 100% freaking out, only 99%. Which is impressive for me as I only know "over reaction" when it comes to Sunshine & ER visits! She was seen quickly & again was lucid, had no balance/motor skills issues so the doctor released us with the ever popular "keep an eye" advice. She went to school on Friday & was fine, Cro-Magnon forehead aside.

By Friday night I was still mentally spent & begged out of our family night at school citing Sunshine's injury.

Sweet sassy-molassy, the GUILT! Not from the PTA. But from ME! From within! From that place inside that makes you cringe as you hear your mother use your full name 35 years ago. Now, two days later, I've barely recovered.

Back to my fellow Room Mom. The really nice one. She works part time & two weeks ago her regular sitter (she has a child in Sunshine's class & a younger one) went to the ER complaining of stomach pain. Without sharing her business on the Internet, let's just say she wound up with emergency surgery & 2-3 weeks of recovery time. So she is unable to care for Room Mom's child. Could I do it?

Say it with me--"OF COURSE I CAN!"

Don't get me wrong--I like children. I have a child who is the center of my universe (or just left of center if Hunter is reading this!). I love the time I've spent in her classroom & doing my AR Chair stuff (Book Fair, AR Celebration Week & such). But one on one child care? Not my forte. But OMG, a friend needs help. I'm in a position to help so why not?

Plus, I'll admit, I'm making a little cash which will go toward my Disney spending $$ fund. Hey, I need a new Mickey Mouse cap as Smitty chewed mine.

Smitty---another instance where I couldn't say no. But that was a previous blog.

So, I'm watching RM's little girl (who is so cute & so spunky & so funny with the sweetest little giggle) for 2-3 weeks, 3 days a week.

I have to admit, I will NOT watch her during Spring Break. Sunshine's birthday falls during that week & I fully plan on sleeping in, doing fun things & fully enjoying our vacation together. I swear I will!

Really.

And today? PTA Board meeting (yes, we had one 2 weeks ago) for our field day event. I'm praying that my reply of "sorry, I'm the Room Mom. I'm going to drag the cooler around & help contain the kids" will allow me to enjoy the day with Sunshine & her class!