Tips for Avoiding Those Crazy PTA Moms!

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Gotcha! I don’t really want you to avoid them, I want you to understand them – and hopefully join or otherwise support them. Wink. Wink.

(Some groups are called a PTA- Parent Teacher Association, and some are called PTO- Parent Teacher Organization, but they are fundamentally the same. Our school has a PTO, so to save time, that’s what I’ll call it in this blog- but know they are both a group of people coming together to give school kids a better future.)

My guess is that you decided to read this blog for one of two reasons:

a) You have a kiddo in school now and are wondering what all the fuss is about and if it’s something you should join, but you hear horror stories about giving up your life to volunteering or… 

b) You’ve been successfully avoiding the PTO at your kids’ school for several years now and you wonder what goes on in the psyche of those crazy moms who run it. (Clearly, there is something not quite right with them, eh?!)

Well, let me introduce myself. I’m Mom to a 12 and a 10-year-old. I work full time. We live on a farm with livestock, large and small. In my spare time, I cheer on the kids in various school and rec sports and also in 4-H…. and I’m the Vice President of my daughter’s school PTO. There. I said it. I am one of “those” crazy PTO Moms!!! (Cue horror movie music!)

I’d like to tell you a little bit about the actual role of PTOs. (It’s not just to chase you down at school functions, I assure you.) You see, school budgets are funny things. They are basically guarded by the state, who may or may not have an idea of what each individual school needs. Funds are assigned for certain things and cannot be traded around for other things. Field Trips? These are not really that valuable as an educational tool- according to the government. Do you remember all those fun “assemblies” that came to your school when you were a kid? Who needs those to learn? A teacher who wishes to use an amazing computer/online tool to help her students read? Not a priority. Book Fairs? Nope…

Did you know….

-Assemblies can easily cost up to $2,500.

-Many schools pay out of pocket for field trip buses (hundreds of dollars!).

-Frequently, teachers buy their own computer programs for their classes to use.

-Many librarians donate their off-work-time volunteering at bookshops in exchange for new books for the school library.

Do you see the problem here? All these things are not “necessary” to learn, but to the kids in a school, they are invaluable. This is why teachers, librarians, aides, administrators, and volunteers give up their own time and money for schools. These things break up the monotony of learning facts and taking tests. Kids NEED these breaks and this fun infused into learning. And besides good old fashioned “fun learning”, some kids just need these things to smile about.

I’m going to get a little dark here for a minute, but please bear with me. You see, many of us are so incredibly blessed in our lives that it takes a reminder to realize that there are many kids who don’t have the home life that our own kids have. I personally know kids who have witnessed drug activity, their parents dying of overdoses. I know kids who have been abused in every way you can think of. Kids who deal with homelessness and being shuffled between relatives, never knowing where they will live tomorrow. Kids who go hungry unless they are at school. These kids have experienced horrors that many of us will never experience ourselves. They come to school to feel safe, cared for, even loved. These children DESERVE field trips and assemblies and a fun computer program to help them read. And kids with a “perfect” home life? Well, they deserve a fun-filled, complete education, too. Kids are our future, but they are depending on us to get them there successfully.

That’s where the crazy PTO parents come in. You see, we believe our kids (and yours and everyone’s) deserve to enjoy their education. They deserve to have field trips and assemblies. They deserve to have a little fun while at school. So while the government gets to say what their money will be spent on, we work hard to raise our own to provide what we feel kids need, too.

So please, if you are at all able, help the PTO out. Yes, as PTO officers we spend A LOT of our time at the school (and on our own) planning events, fundraisers, book fairs etc. We take time off work to give to the school. And let me be frank – there are days I am frustrated with my long PTO to-do list, but never have I regretted that I give my time for these kids. The very first time a student (that I knew had a sad home life) ran up and hugged me for giving him a snow cone, I was hooked! I love our school and I will continue to make a difference in all the kids’ lives, standing shoulder to shoulder with the teachers, administrators and other parents who volunteer.

I’m not asking you to make the same time commitment that I do. That is a choice I make, same as you must make choices in your life. But if you think that because you can’t make any of the PTO meetings or daytime events that there is nothing you can do to help, I assure you there is! 

Volunteer for one single evening event. Give up your lunch break once a month and collect Box Tops. Let your kids sell a few candy bars to your neighbors. Staple book fair flyers one evening while watching your favorite show. Do the shopping for food for an event. Call (or text or email) and schedule other volunteers for events. Tell your new neighbor who is a SAHM about the PTO at your school. If your employer gives donations, suggest the PTO. Volunteer to manage the Facebook page for the PTO. Design event flyers on your computer.

Think outside the (lunch) box and I’m sure there is something you can do to help your school PTO. If you are still shaking your head that you have no time to give, maybe you have a little cash you could donate. Every little bit helps. 

I promise you that payment in hugs and smiles – and securing a real future for our kids – is more than enough compensation for a little of your time or money.

Try engaging the crazy PTO board members the next time you see them, instead of running and hiding from them 🙂

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Audrey M.
Hey Ya'll! I’m Audrey, a middle of nowhere, East Tennessee transplant. My husband (and forever crush) Andy and I were born and raised in Ohio State Buckeye territory, where we met in junior high school and married halfway through college. We have 2 tweens here on Earth: Lucas-the sweetest jokester boy you will ever meet, and Alaina-a charismatic and responsible redhead. We were hoping for a bigger family, but it wasn’t in the cards for us. For years we vacationed here in and around Knoxville, and so when the opportunity came to move here, we took it! Prior to moving here, I was first and foremost a Wife and Mother, but filled my days at a special needs preschool, title company, and as a FT volunteer-a-holic. In my spare time, I love diy, crafting, reading and writing. And I will always be a barefoot farm girl at heart. We raise/grow our own food- and I occasionally even make dinner out of our homegrown goodness- but I hate cooking! I can’t wait to immerse myself in this sweet, southern community!

3 COMMENTS

  1. My mom was a “crazy PTO mom” as well!! As a former teacher myself, I can 100% attest to the fact that teachers (and other school staff) do have to use their own resources and money far too often. It makes me both sad and mad because some of my best memories of early education involve field trips, speakers, book fairs … all the things state funding has decided are no longer necessary. All this to say, you rock, Mama for taking a vested interest in your kids education and being proactive!

    • Thank you, Mallory!
      My parents were both involved in our school (my Dad was also a teacher) and I grew up thinking everyone was this invested in what was happening at school. When my kids started in a public school, I’ll admit I was a bit sad to find that some parents don’t care and never will. But I have met so many teachers, administrators and volunteers that DO care, those others fade into the background 🙂

  2. This is such a good reminder! My kids are still young, but with a background in teaching I know how incredibly helpful it is to have volunteers! You are making a difference- thank you for what you do!

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