Be engaged...you'll never regret it

I'm a busy mom.  All moms are busy.  In the past couple of years, I have felt overwhelmed with the amount of commitments I allow myself.  This year though, I am determined to handle everything.  In order to do this I had to realize what I was doing wrong.  There had to be a root to my stress.  I knew that I couldn't keep all the plates spinner if I could just put my finger on what was causing me to drop them all in the past.  It was lack of organization.

Organization has always been a struggle for me. I pile things up telling myself I will sort it out later.  But I never do.  I never follow through with containers, binders, labels, etc.  Not anymore.  I took on the role of PTA president this year and I'm a Girl Scout Troop Leader.  If I drop plates, there are parents and kids relying on me to be consistent, transparent, and communicative.

 
Tonight, I held our first parent meeting of the year for Girls Scouts.  I am very proud of myself for creating a binder to stay organized.  Of course I had to get it in green and made a cover sheet.  I loved the vintage GS picture of the different levels of girls from days past.

Inside, I have tabs for the following topics: troop meeting plans, troop budge/expenses, calendars/newsletters, permission/health forms, brownie patch tracker, daisy patch tracker, Sandpiper Community Meetings, and trainings.  I am using sheet protectors to keep agendas, minutes, and forms that I need multiple copies of.  The only problem is that when I use page protectors, I can see my table labels but I'll find a solution eventually.

I'm also going to help keep my parents and girls more organized.  I borrowed a folder idea from this organized troop leader.  Each Brownie will get a green (brown folders are impossible to find!) plastic folder with their name on it.

I fell in love with Jen Allen's blog I am Girl Scouts.  She has tons of templates you can type into for free.  Her designs are colorful and fun.  Her Girl Scout Promise and Law page is the front cover.  I think I am a bit of a traditionalist in this aspect.  I think everything we do has connect to the promise and law.  These statements are our mission and give us purpose and direction.  They bind us together in a sisterhood.  All my Brownies have the promise memorized.  We will be working on memorizing the law this year. 

The next pack is Jen's Troop Snack Calendar.  I left mine blank. The girls will write it in at each meeting (being responsible for what I say and do).  Some troops set up a schedule but we choose new kapers at the end of each meeting.  My girls enjoy this process.

 The next page is the Girl Scout Promise using sign language.  I am going to teach my Daisies using sign language.  It's a tactile way to learn it, fun, and adds a multicultural element to our meeting. 
On the inside left pocket is a label with the leader contact information. 

I will add an envelope for dues and resource pages as the year progresses.  If the girls have "scoutwork" (instead of homework) this is where it will go.  These folders aren't as bulky as the girl guide binders.

I am also pretty proud of my little newsletter.  I borrowed the Troop Scoop from something I saw on pinterest but haven't been able to find it again.  All in all I am having a great time.  I have amazing parents who are willing to step in and plan events, parties, lessons, field trips.  They are generous and love their kids and love our troop.  It makes the volunteering part a joy to be a part of.

A woman interrupted our meeting (we met at a Chick-fil-a) for a few minutes inquiring about troops and how to get a placement.  I encouraged her to become a leader.  I know people look at me like I 'm crazy when I tell them I am a GS Leader, PTA President, Wellness Champion.  I take on a lot.  But what is the alternative?  Sitting around twiddling my thumbs? 

Probably not but I know I will never regret engaging in my children's childhood.  Because I am involved in girl scouts I am ensuring that my daughters are having experiences to build their courage and confidence.  Because I am involved in PTA I know that not just my kids but their school is going to have programs that empower families to be engaged in their children's school lives. 

Someone recently said, "I just don't have time to be involved."  My heart crushes for them.  I know that our lives are crazy.  Everyone has a million things to do, bills to pay.  So many of us are treading frantically in stormy waters just hoping that the next huge wave wont be the one to pull us under for good. But engaging at school, in your community, at your church...whatever it is you choose that improves the community...is the right thing to do. So,  I choose. I choose engagement over neutrality.  I choose communication over silence.  I choose positive change over stagnant living. I choose my children.

Don't get me wrong.  I don't write this to shout to the world that I am an awesome parent.  Read my previous post.  I fail all the time.  I make more mistakes than I care to admit.  But I think I am a testament to a busy mom's best efforts to be the change in the world that I want to see happening.  An I'm proof that anyone can do it.