Friday, October 10, 2008

I SAID NO!!!

NO!!Usually when someone asks me to chair a position, run for office, volunteer my time at school or with the Junior Board of Rock Island the first words out of my mouth is sure I will try it.....well I was told to say NO to a task and I did it!! I wiped my hands of the next event at Denkmann School. I will not be working, chairing or volunteering for our Spookin' Fun Night on October 25th. I will not be setting up, I will not be directing or scheduling volunteers to help...simply put I said NO!! My good friend Maria Taber told me I need to say No to a task or request and enjoy something for once. So during this event I will be enjoying it with Kylie. I will direct any questions to the Chair people of this event and I refrain from helping out in anyway..except I did volunteer to donate a bake good already. Does this count?

A few weeks ago there was a week in September that I had a meeting, workshop or volunteered to help with our non profit organization called NEST all in one week. I had something going on every single night. Kylie asked me "Why will you be gone tonight again Mom?" Well that got me thinking. Everything I am doing I do for her. I am involved at her school because I want the best for her, I get involved because I can't just sit back, I have to have my hands in something, but this made me think. I am doing all this for her but yet it is taking TIME away from her. This doesn't seem to make sense to me when I think about it that way. So Maria asking me to say NO to a task made me think even harder, does it take away from my friends and my husband just as much?? It will be interesting on our Spookin' Fun Night as I will attempt not to do anything to help, I will sit in a corner , on my hands and will take pride in knowing it can all be done without me. I have only 2.5 more years at this school and someone else will come along and become the PTA President and will run things even better than I have done. It will be all just fine!!

Believe it or not I will also be missing my first PTA meeting since Kylie started school at Denkmann. Upon Kylie's return to school there is a PTA meeting on Tuesday the 21st and for the first time in 5 years I will not be present to voice my concern, give a cheer for a job well done or to encourage other parents to get involved in their child's school. The ironic part about it all is that I will be missing it only because I will be in a meeting with the Superintendent of the District and it happens to fall on the same evening as our PTA meeting. I know the new PTA President will do just fine in holding the meeting...in fact it might be good I am gone. I still tend to step on her toes when it comes to procedures and getting the group fired up.

So far it feels good saying NO and I am sure I should say it a bit more often. However, because I have said yes and have accepted a few challenges to help my community I have met some of the best people in our community. In fact I am involved in an organization with the person who told me to say NO. I guess I need to choose my battles a bit more carefully. It will be interesting to see how I do on the 25th.

Maria- Thank you for making a suggestion for my month. I have been very lucky to have you in my life and you have cheered me up on more occasions than you know. You are a wonderful role mom to your children and your inspiration for life and happiness is addicting. I have enjoyed watching you take on challenges with full steam ahead and have cheered with you during your accomplishments. Please keep smiling and being my friend, you are so special.

1 comment:

Holly Kay Sparkman said...

It's really hard to say no isn't it? You are setting a great example for Kylie as to how involved you are in the community, however there aren't enough hours in the day to spend with your child, and they grow up way too fast. Take it from an empty nester!