Into the PTO Grind

I agreed to join the PTO last spring. After doing some volunteering here and there and a lot of popping popcorn for the kids' popcorn friday snacks, a couple of desperate pto'ers stuck my name in as secretary under the nomination.

When I first started at the elementary school, ahuhm, my daughter started at school, I avoided the PTO like the plague. I figured it was a group of moms with nothing better to do than to sit around and organize a bunch of fundraisers.

Well, they indeed do that. But, they have a lot of better or should I simply say other things to do. They are not a group of bored housewives needing fullfillment. And, being in the PTO is hardwork and I'm sure fullfilling at times. Like childrearing is fullfilling. You know the small glimpses of positivity that you get after weeks of fighting and arguing?

Throughout my daughter's second year at school in first grade, I realized there were only a few moms who do the heavy lifting. I also found they were terrific women. I appreciated them but I still didn't want to be one of them. Afterall, I need time to write. And, have coffee at Panera with my girlfriends.

But, they asked. And, I couldn't look any of them in the face and say "No, I'm sorry. You do soo much for my daughter's school but I don't have time to sit at the PTO meetings and take notes". Could you have done it?

Last night was our first meeting. Now, I love pen and paper. Well, pencil and paper. I enjoy writing on a yellow legal pad with a good pencil. Mirado Black Warrior's are my favorite and now an addiction thanks to my friend, Kat! They are smooth and erase beautifully. But after 2 1/2 hours of taking notes, I felt like a legal secretary. This is going to eat into my writing time and use up my good pencils. Not to mention all the other stuff I will end up volunteering for. It's a good thing those women are cool to hang out with!

Do you think there might be a story in all of this? I'm banking on it. I'm off to type up the minutes. See you in a few days!