The Volunteer Extraordinaire still exists!

Ignored, but not forgotten, she returns!!

I took a break from much of my regular volunteer work over the summer and with my Girl Scout troop dissolving, that much more was eliminated. And with the craziness of every day life gnawing on the edges of my sanity, I didn't want to do more than the school-regulated minimum.

Yesterday, I bit the proverbial bullet and went to volunteer at Hayley's school. It's her second year there and this is the first time I've volunteered. Who knows what was holding me back, but I finally decided to just get my a#@ over there and give back.

Together with several other moms, I alphabetized and doled out $30,000 worth of baked goods from the September fundraiser. It was chaotic and somewhat back ache-inducing, but so fun!

I forgot how much fun there is to be had in volunteering!

Today I was back in Emma's classroom. I'm there every Wednesday afternoon, helping kids with their writing, grading papers, etc. (I adore grading papers--the methodical nature is soothing to me.) Today I graded a social studies test the kids had just completed.

(Warning! Mama brag forthcoming! My daughter was the *only* kid in the class to score 100%! Go, Emma, Go!)

Her teacher wants me to come in more often to help and I would love to. But there's that work thing.

And that book thing.

And that balance thing.

But, really, volunteering is a balance. It's fun. It makes me happy. It makes my kids happy. I'm role-modeling strong values. Not to mention all those purported health benefits!

Hhmm... I think I might have to whip up a pink cape with the initials "VE" (for Volunteer Extraordinaire) on the back. More fun!