Did you know that the Parent Teachers Association (PTA) is now called the PTO? It confuses the hell out of me. PTO stands for Paid Time Off, people, don’t you know that? Now I have two kinds of PTOs in my life? One that makes me think of beaches and boardwalks and one that conjures up images of Valerie Harper and women wearing pearls and sensible shoes. What was wrong with PTA? Is an organization that much better than an association? I want answers.
So my oldest son is about to go into the first grade. I’m having serious issues with this. Today, The First Grade; tomorrow, The Senior Prom. Seriously. Blink of an eye. The first six years are a blur and I’m terrified to think about the next six. He is going to be a lanky walking hormone, sprouting hair and popping zits before I know it. And today he is just so darn cute.
Anyway, first grade means elementary school. We have a brand new school out here and they are starting everything from scratch. Brand new beautiful LEED certified school building, new principal, new teachers, new teaching garden (cool, right?), and new PTO. So where is all this going? Said PTO needs a Vice President and I’m wondering if I should throw my hat in the ring.
Do you think I’m crazy? (I ask my husband this all the time and the answer is usually a simple one: “Yes.”) Why in the name of Pete would I want to be VP of a PTO? I just finished talking about working 14 out of 18 waking hours. I have three boys 6 and under. It is clear I have my hands full.
Here is what I’m thinking:
Well, for one thing it would force me to leave work and focus on something else. “Sorry gotta run. PTO meeting. I’m VP, you know. Can’t be late.”
For two, it might ease some guilt of the non-involved, can’t do field trips working mom. I will be up to my ears in involvement. Entrenched.
For three, I might make some friends out of it. This is worrisome. Has it come down to joining committees to make friends? Remember the days of making friends in Sociology class and bonding over crappy boyfriends and Long Island Iced Teas? No? Just me? Well, I remember that. And friends are hard to make from scratch when you are over 28. I can’t be the only one to find this out. Hmmm, come to think of it I was in a sorority in college. PTO is probably a lot like that. And as much as it embarrasses me to admit it, I dug the sorority thing.
Four, I have three boys and not all of them are angels. I might need to butter some teachers (and the principal) up before they are asked to teach these little guys. If they know and like me and see I’m a normal upstanding, involved mom then they might be more tolerant of the boys as they come through the system. C’mon, we are going to be at this school for 8 years–youngest dude will graduate elementary school in 2019!
So it still comes down to this…am I crazy to take on more? Maybe.
Will I be stressed out trying to juggle everything? You betcha.
Am I going to run for VP of the PTO? All signs point to yes.
