So, yesterday was the second day of the Secret Santa Shop (SSS). We knew things would be busy as we gave the teachers 1 hour slots this year. Yesterday was early release day so we lost 2 shopping hours. Two very precious shopping hours as we had a couple teachers doubling up during one slot.
Our PTA President works part time for big name insurance company headquartered here. Yesterday she had to go into their headquarters for a meeting & was planning on coming in to help as soon as the meeting let out. Our Fall Festival Chair person had to go to work as she'd missed the last 4 days because of a sick child. The SSS chair was at her part time job as well. So, it left me & another mom to run the show. We're hard core, we can do this.
Things went south when she was ringing on the register & I was wrapping gifts. And by going south, I mean she messed up & loudly proclaimed "SH*T!" In front of half a dozen kids. And while this is happening, her husband is texting/calling her. We switch jobs & she's on the phone while wrapping. I hear the following come out of her mouth: "I can't leave. Laurie would be all alone in here"
The next few minutes are a blur as there are dozens of children in the shop, her phone is ringing & next thing I know she says "I have to go & do something for him"
PTA volunteer say what?
Leave? Me? NOW? With no one to help me? This just isn't done!
But dear readers, it WAS done. Chick leaves me high & dry. And riding the crazy train at that.
At some point, one of the 4th grade teachers came in with her class & told me she'd help wrap. And as soon as some of her super reliable kids had shopped/paid/been wrapped they'd help me too.
I tell you, it took a village, or at the very least, a 4th grade class to make this SSS happen yesterday.
And, may I add that you know people feel really bad for you when teachers are suggesting you go home & have a drink when school lets out at 12:30. Teachers, plural. I may or may not have taken their advice---I'll leave you wondering on that ;)
Today was Hunter's ankle surgery---apparently things were quite messy in there. His ligament (or was it tendon?) was as thick as his doctor's finger & a bone spur had developed to mess things up even more. He twisted it over the summer while mowing the lawn & things just never got better. He went from a brace to a boot to a cane to an MRI to today's surgery.
He drove himself in at 5 am as we both agreed that waking Sunshine & having her ride in w/ us would be awful for her. So after I dropped her off at school, I started my trek to one of the civilian hospitals. After a quick diversion to the PO to pick up my Mom's Christmas presents for us.
We got home around 1:15 & he's spent most of the day in bed with his foot elevated. He's in a bit of pain & so far hydrocodone's not helping much. We'll see if things are better tomorrow or whether we need to get something else to help him feel better.
And, can I tell you about the cold therapy unit? It's a COOLER with electric cables plugged into it. Seriously. A cooler. You know the person who created this thing is rich from it. A cooler, people! *shakes head*
Tomorrow is my other day off from the SSS. I felt incredibly guilty about taking 2 days off. Never mind the fact that our VP is never around for anything, saw I was alone on Tuesday & left me to go back to her son's class, but told me to "call" if we needed help or anything. What did she think I needed when it was me & some 4th graders running the show? You'd be right if you said a xanax & a big ol' cocktail, but they frown on stuff like that in elementary schools. You'd also be right if you said "OH! Laurie, you needed someone to pitch in & help you!" And I'd give you a big ol' prize for that correct answer.
So, back to my guilt. It's awful. I didn't help out at Family Fit Night last Spring because Sunshine had a knot on her head from falling the day before & honestly, I didn't want to leave my house. I was beating myself up for days over that one. Then, the weekend before Fall Festival I skipped out of Beautification Day at school. I worked like a dog at the one before school started & was sick that afternoon. The best guilt trip I took was during Book Fair---you remember Book Fair--it's how I got started in this whole PTA Crazy Train trip. So back during Book Fair in September we also host a Grandparents Breakfast on that Friday. I'm already running & working a major fundraiser. I've done the planning, the scheduling, the copying, the set up, the working, & will be working the break down so I can have my margarita w/ our librarian. BUT, as I'm signing checks for the breakfast (I'm also the Treasurer, remember? Yes, I'm insane), I'm apologizing like a fiend because I can't help with the breakfast.
Seriously. Insane. I know it---it's okay, you can say it.
Yes, I have a hobby. I knit. At PTA functions sometimes. Book Fairs at least.
So, yesterday as I was fuming over being ditched for some errand to the Dollar Tree, I was writing my letter of resignation to the PTA. I was going to give up the Treasurer's position, tell them they could forget about me being either Secretary or Treasurer next year & that I'd do Book Fair & nothing more. I know, I'll never actually write that letter but the fantasy of doing it helped me through the situation.
When I was telling Hunter about my awful day & how I was ditched for the DOLLAR TREE!!!!, I told him how I felt guilty about being gone for 2 days. He just shakes his head & tells me that I really need to share my thoughts with people about certain situations. I'm not sure about that. I don't think that this woman needs to know what I think about her Dollar Tree mission. Not if I don't want my tires slashed. Or worse.
It hit me that my New Year's Resolution will be to give up feeling guilty. I will do the jobs I've volunteered for & that's it. Someone else can pick up the slack. Things won't fall apart if I don't have a hand in them. And I'm sure there are other moms & dads who want to be more involved. Aren't there??
So tomorrow I'm going to do some knitting, get my Christmas cards written out & addressed & possibly go for a hot stone massage pedicure if my patient is okay.
And I will NOT feel guilty about it!
Tomorrow is my other day off from the SSS. I felt incredibly guilty about taking 2 days off. Never mind the fact that our VP is never around for anything, saw I was alone on Tuesday & left me to go back to her son's class, but told me to "call" if we needed help or anything. What did she think I needed when it was me & some 4th graders running the show? You'd be right if you said a xanax & a big ol' cocktail, but they frown on stuff like that in elementary schools. You'd also be right if you said "OH! Laurie, you needed someone to pitch in & help you!" And I'd give you a big ol' prize for that correct answer.
So, back to my guilt. It's awful. I didn't help out at Family Fit Night last Spring because Sunshine had a knot on her head from falling the day before & honestly, I didn't want to leave my house. I was beating myself up for days over that one. Then, the weekend before Fall Festival I skipped out of Beautification Day at school. I worked like a dog at the one before school started & was sick that afternoon. The best guilt trip I took was during Book Fair---you remember Book Fair--it's how I got started in this whole PTA Crazy Train trip. So back during Book Fair in September we also host a Grandparents Breakfast on that Friday. I'm already running & working a major fundraiser. I've done the planning, the scheduling, the copying, the set up, the working, & will be working the break down so I can have my margarita w/ our librarian. BUT, as I'm signing checks for the breakfast (I'm also the Treasurer, remember? Yes, I'm insane), I'm apologizing like a fiend because I can't help with the breakfast.
Seriously. Insane. I know it---it's okay, you can say it.
Yes, I have a hobby. I knit. At PTA functions sometimes. Book Fairs at least.
So, yesterday as I was fuming over being ditched for some errand to the Dollar Tree, I was writing my letter of resignation to the PTA. I was going to give up the Treasurer's position, tell them they could forget about me being either Secretary or Treasurer next year & that I'd do Book Fair & nothing more. I know, I'll never actually write that letter but the fantasy of doing it helped me through the situation.
When I was telling Hunter about my awful day & how I was ditched for the DOLLAR TREE!!!!, I told him how I felt guilty about being gone for 2 days. He just shakes his head & tells me that I really need to share my thoughts with people about certain situations. I'm not sure about that. I don't think that this woman needs to know what I think about her Dollar Tree mission. Not if I don't want my tires slashed. Or worse.
It hit me that my New Year's Resolution will be to give up feeling guilty. I will do the jobs I've volunteered for & that's it. Someone else can pick up the slack. Things won't fall apart if I don't have a hand in them. And I'm sure there are other moms & dads who want to be more involved. Aren't there??
So tomorrow I'm going to do some knitting, get my Christmas cards written out & addressed & possibly go for a hot stone massage pedicure if my patient is okay.
And I will NOT feel guilty about it!
You're amazing--I truthfully don't see how you do it all! The PTA is very lucky to have such a wonderful and dedicated volunteer like you. DO NOT FEEL GUILTY about not being able to be there for every single thing! I hope the patient is doing well. Get the pedicure, you deserve it :)
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