• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to header navigation
  • Skip to footer navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Display Search Bar
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on Facebook Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on Twitter Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on Pinterest Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on Instagram Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on YouTube Follow 5 Minutes For Mom via RSS

5 Minutes for Mom

Main navigation

  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Course
      • Breakfast and Brunch
      • Snack
      • Lunch
      • Appetizer
      • Dinner
      • Dessert
    • Ingredient
      • Apple
      • Beef
      • Blueberry
      • Chicken
      • Chocolate
      • Cranberry
      • Peach
      • Pumpkin
      • Squash
      • Strawberry
      • Tomato
      • Vegetables
      • Zucchini
    • Method
      • Air Fryer
      • Baking
      • Grilling
      • Instant Pot
      • No Bake
      • One Dish
      • Slow Cooker
    • Type
      • Breads and Rolls
      • Cakes and Muffins
      • Condiments
      • Cookies and Bars
      • Drinks
      • Food for Kids
      • Gluten-Free
      • Main Dish
      • Pies and Crisps
      • Salads
      • Sandwiches and Wraps
      • Side Dishes
      • Smoothies
      • Soup
  • Crafts & DIY
    • Crafts
    • DIY
    • Kids Crafts
    • Printables
    • Scrapbooking
    • Sewing
  • Family Life
    • Giveaways
    • Lifestyle
    • Marriage
    • Motherhood
    • Parenting
    • Pet Care
    • Special Needs
    • Time Management
    • Travel
  • Holidays
    • New Year’s
    • Valentine’s Day
    • St. Patrick’s Day
    • Easter
    • Mother’s Day
    • Fourth of July
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas

Back Away From the Sign Up Sheet: Knowing When to Volunteer and When Not To

November 17, 2011 by Guest Contributor

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

ShareTweetPinPocketMail

5 Minutes for Mom guest contributor, Aimee Wilcox, is writing today about knowing when to say when, when it comes to volunteering. Aimee isa busy mom of four that, as an at-home-working mom, is always looking for perspective and balance. You can find these and other insights on Aimee’s blog, Motherhood and Other Musings.

Volunteer Season

If you have kids in school then you already know that fall is synonymous with fund raising and volunteer opportunities. Volunteering and fundraising are necessary and important; taking on a non-paid part time job when being a mom full time already has you in a tailspin, is not. Unfortunately, it took me a few years to figure this out.

Of course, there are two ways to look at this: you can volunteer your time, or you can volunteer your funds (but usually doing one precludes the expectation that you’ll do the other). Not having much in the way of funds, I chose option one.

What I’ve learned through volunteering at school:

  1. Find out the time commitment before you agree to do the job (the more naive you are, the more likely you’ll be asked for more). Better yet, ask the person who is currently in the role (just know that they may have a vested interest in finding their replacement- see #3)
  2.  

  3. Be very clear about the amount of time (and money) you can commit up front and don’t let others pressure you into more than you know you can handle
  4.  

  5. Once you agree to the job, it’s usually yours indefinitely, or until you can find someone else to replace you (unless it’s an elected position)
  6.  

  7. Have peace of mind that if you say no, someone else will eventually agree to do it (don’t feel like it’s your responsibility)
  8.  

  9. If you say yes, you will probably make some really good friends, learn a few new skills and be happy you did it (just be sure to keep track when you put your name down, especially for future commitments)
  10.  

  11. And be sure your kids know that you are contributing your time (and/or money) so they can feel part of the process and see the benefits of volunteering.

 

And, finally, a third option is to make a lump sum donation at the beginning of the year/season with the clear communication that this is your one and only contribution. If the ultimate goal is fund raising, you probably won’t hear any complaints (and they won’t have to share the profits).

A few years later and a few years wiser, I am much more careful about which projects I take on and make it known up front how much I’m willing to commit. But I do recommend volunteering, and at the very least, it will help fill gaps in your resume if you ever consider going back to work. Also, in case you’re wondering, the friendships I’ve made volunteering have endured longer and stronger than any others I’ve made from just showing up. So don’t back away from the sign up sheet completely, just know what you’re signing up for and be realistic.

Happy volunteering!

Aimee Wilcox is an at-home working mom of four, ages 3-9, including twins. When she’s not chasing kids or running away from them (not literally, she’s also a runner), she is reflecting on the journey that is motherhood and the daily effort to master the Great Balance of life with kids.

ShareTweetPinPocketMail
Babble Brings in the Dad Bloggers with their New Dad Blog — Dadding
Stop Panicking by Stopping Allergic Reactions at School

Reader Interactions


Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

2 Comments

  1. century chevrolet says

    January 1, 2012 at 11:17 pm

    Howdy just stumbled upon your blog via Yahoo after I entered in, “Back Away From the Sign Up Sheet: Knowing When to Volunteer and When Not To – 5 Minutes For Mom” or perhaps something similar (can’t quite remember exactly). In any case, I’m glad I found it simply because your subject material is exactly what I’m looking for (writing a college paper) and I hope you don’t mind if I collect some material from here and I will of course credit you as the source. Thank you so much.

    Reply
  2. audra baecker says

    November 17, 2011 at 11:47 pm

    Very good advice Aimee! Thanks for sharing with us. 🙂

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

Bringing Moms Together

We are Janice and Susan, twin bloggers and work-at-home moms. We're here to inspire, encourage & empower you.

Meet Us…

Work With Us…

Subscribe via Email

to be first to read new posts

Trending Now

“You Color My World” Free Printable Valentines

“You Color My World” Free Printable Valentines

Oven Roasted Potatoes and Peppers Recipe

Oven Roasted Potatoes and Peppers Recipe

How To Use A Moka Pot – Discover The Secret To Making Amazing Coffee At Home

How To Use A Moka Pot – Discover The Secret To Making Amazing Coffee At Home

Get Outside and Play with Spray Chalk

Get Outside and Play with Spray Chalk

browse around

  • Posts by Susan
  • Posts by Janice
  • Favorite Recipes
  • Favorite Crafts
  • Giveaways
  • All Posts

Footer

Recipes

St. Patrick’s Day Sugar Cookies with a Clever Decorating Trick

St. Patrick’s Day Sugar Cookies with a Clever Decorating Trick

Traditional Irish Soda Bread Recipe and History

Traditional Irish Soda Bread Recipe and History

Easy Valentine Sugar Cookies

Easy Valentine Sugar Cookies

Crafts/DIY

“You Color My World” Free Printable Valentines

“You Color My World” Free Printable Valentines

Buddy the Elf Hat Pattern – How to Make an Elf Hat out of Felt

Buddy the Elf Hat Pattern – How to Make an Elf Hat out of Felt

20 Free Summer Printables For Kids

20 Free Summer Printables For Kids

Giveaways

Holiday Gift Guides and Christmas Giveaway 2024

Holiday Gift Guides and Christmas Giveaway 2024

Valentine’s Day Gifts For Women

Valentine’s Day Gifts For Women

REDEEMING LOVE Set to Strike Gold on the Big Screen #RedeemingLoveMovie

REDEEMING LOVE Set to Strike Gold on the Big Screen #RedeemingLoveMovie

Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on Facebook Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on Twitter Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on Pinterest Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on Instagram Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on YouTube Follow 5 Minutes For Mom via RSS
  • About
  • Contact
  • Work with Us
  • Privacy Policy
Copyright © 2025 5 Minutes for MomTheme by Melissa Rose Design and Once Coupled