We recently received a request to renew our blog domain. I felt a bit guilty, realizing how long it had been since I’d had a chance to post.
About a year ago, I got dressed up, tried to give myself some good pep-talk in the mirror, then layered on my winter gear, jumped on my bike and headed out to “the meeting”.
People had already arrived and the current leaders were gathered around piles of paperwork, checking things and going through bags. I discreetly glanced at them, trying to listen in for details and search for clues of things I might need to know or prepare for or talk about.
Would I need to prepare a speech? I wanted to be on my game, but it can be hard to be on your game when… well… you’re not sure what’s going on in the game. When you’re suddenly asked for your thoughts or comments or information on a subject that happens to be a word you haven’t learned yet… well… It’s a limelight that doesn’t quite compliment my coloring.
Anyway, I ended up taking the job of secretary, mostly because over the years, I realized that a lot of the forms I’d received looked similar to the ones I received the year before. So, templates were to my advantage.
Of course, my first official document ended up being a completely new one I had no template for.
But I’ve managed. And I’ve learned. I’ve done a lot of observing (more on that later!) I’ve produced some 40 documents over the last year, many of which I had to “bow my way through” because I’d made small errors in them (sometimes big!)… and I have about another 40 to come up with in the next 2 months.
It has been an enormous opportunity to learn the inner workings, not only of PTA, but also of how the school and neighborhood community groups and our PTA groups are connected. More than connected, they are woven together and it can make decision making complicated. It’s overall a great way to serve the community and the next generation growing up around us.
Still though… It’s soon to be my turn to stand around the table of piles of paperwork, double checking things and getting ready to turn over the whole show to the next group of officials in a few months.
I plan on celebrating.
Ninja Mom 