The Reason Every Working Mother Needs to Volunteer

My eleven-year-old son is playing tackle football for the first time this year. Before the season started the boys were asked to sell discount cards that no one will ever use for $25.00 each. Each boy was asked to sell ten and if they managed to sell twenty they would get a team sweatshirt with their name on it. Being a class-A mama bear I wanted to make sure that my boy got his swag. To his credit my son sold three to neighbors. I then put the squeeze on every co-worker and bless their hearts they got us to within striking distance. Now mind you for weeks I begged my husband to please ask his co-workers and family to help out. Once I got us to seventeen I laid down the law and told him under no uncertain circumstances he better get three sold. So with great reluctance he asked a vendor who works with his company and the man bought eighteen. Halle-freaking-lujah! He was very proud of himself and quite frankly I was too. Until that is, I gave the money to the team mom. As I hand her the envelope she gives me a big smile and says, “I hear your husband really killed it.” To which I wanted to respond that sure he killed it after I threatened to actually kill him and if by killing it you mean he is one lucky duck of a man to sell eighteen with his one and only ask then yes he is “killing it.” Sigh.

I know that being a working mother is one of the most thankless jobs in the universe. I’ve long ago resigned myself to the fact that my life as a professional with children would mean working ten hour days only to come home to cook a meal that everyone complains about. My weekends are filled with endless amounts of laundry, chauffeuring children to sports and tutors and friends’ houses, long neglected projects around the house and yes cooking! And it’s just expected. It’s what I chose. It’s what I committed to when I decided to have children. And yes I do give them lectures about being grateful and saying thank you to me every once in a while but a thank you that has been demanded just doesn’t have the same panache as one spontaneously issued from the heart.

Which brings me to why, as insanely busy as I am, my volunteer work is an essential component in my life. I sit on two and a half boards (the half is an advisory board that has “board-lite” responsibilities). You can ask anyone who knows me if I have the time to volunteer and they will answer you with a resounding “no!” So why do I make time? Why do I clear space on my calendar so I can be involved? Because they make up for all the times I’m under-appreciated or let’s face it completely not appreciated. Non-profit organizations work on shoe-string budgets so everything counts. Every hour of time, every bit of talent, and certainly every penny of treasure given to a non-profit makes a difference to their mission. And their compensation to the giver is gratitude. Lots of it. Like embarrassing amounts of it. This week, for instance, I’ve received two text messages—one from a fellow board member and the other from a staff member—that left me in tears because I was so touched. The novelty of having your efforts recognized will do funny things to even the most jaded of us working moms.

Getting involved with a non-profit has dozens of other fantastic benefits. Not the least of which are things like making a positive difference in people’s lives and the deep sense of fulfillment that comes from giving of yourself. But if you feel like you could use a few more “thank yous” in your life—and what working mother doesn’t—look no further than your favorite charity. Make this the year you don’t just send them a check but you give them a little piece of you. It will be worth it. I promise.