Being a mum of five children, keeping up with school life can sometimes feel like a full time job. The kids are split between three schools, which makes it that little bit trickier to keep on top of it all as a school mum. At times I feel as though I should hire a personal assistant just to help me rifle through the millions of notes that come home with each child. Just when you think you have everything important documented on your calendar, more notes come home and the feeling of overwhelm takes over. The instinct to shut down, wing it, and hope for the best often wins the day.
It’s the “crazy pants day’s” where every year is asked to bring a different item to participate. Year 1’s bring in jars, Yr 2 cola cans, Kindy, a vial of blood from an Antarctic snow cat.
It’s the sports carnival’s where they ask for volunteers and you constantly have to decline because your two year old cannot stand in one place for more than a nano second. I think I accidentally won a race once, just chasing after my adventurous toddler.
The parent teacher interviews that you need to book in online, even though you are technologically challenged and need someone to walk you through the process.
The sausage sizzle days where you need to remember not to pack a lunch on Friday in four weeks time, but if left to your own devices would of course forget.
It’s a lot. It can sometimes be too much, for someone who’s plate is already full.
Enter the overachieving school mum.
Many parents may feel intimidated by the classic overachieving school mum.
You know the ones. These are the mums that take the initiative to set up the school Facebook pages. Those absolute gems, that serve to remind you of all the important school events that would have otherwise slipped your mind. Because when you are knee deep in life, it is easy to forget what day “crazy sock day” falls upon.
It is because of these mums, that I stay on top of most things for my children. Rather than begrudge them for their enthusiasm, I salute them. I celebrate them, even.
These are the mums that volunteer for everything. The mums that are always at the school, the ones on the P&T committee. The ones who go the extra mile.
I used to feel guilty for not being one of these mums, inadequate and less than. I don’t anymore. Everyone walks a certain path in life, and everyone is dealt different cards. Each mum has different strengths, different weaknesses, different support networks and different motives for the way they navigate through life.
Some mums simply have more time to give than others, and that’s OK. Some mums, feel a sense of self worth when they involve themselves in school, and that’s great!
To the mums that serve to help me navigate my way through school life, I thank you.
For whatever reason you do what you do, you help me stay on top of things. You volunteer when I cannot and this helps our collective children. You have the energy and the personality to take charge, when I’m at a point in my life where I have neither. For this I am grateful.
At the end of the day, we really are not in competition with each other. Today’s average mum can be tomorrow’s overachieving one, once personal circumstances change. We help each other in different ways and this magnifies our strengths.
So whatever category of school mum you are, you are doing great, and you are valuable.
Just Remember:
Library books are due on Wednesday. There will be an author reading so you’ll have to hand in the note by Monday. Although money is due on Tuesday, which is also “crazy hair day”. You’ll have to bring in gardening gear for Yr 1, dog food for Yr 2 and plastic containers for other years.
Don’t forget that sports uniforms have changed JUST for that week. So instead of Tuesday’s and Thursday’s it will be on Monday’s and Wednesday’s. Please remember to bring in $2 for ice cream day on Friday. Your child’s class will be hosting school assembly this week so make sure they have a native fauna costume ready.
Remember chocolate money is also due this week. It’s bring a cow to school day on Wednesday, where you will also be required to book on line for celebration of learning.
If you can volunteer on any day this week, that would also be greatly appreciated.
