tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11800564.post6930706100061074747..comments2023-11-25T19:34:41.986-06:00Comments on Mistress Of All Evil: The Mommy Wars, Explained for DaddysAmy Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00085705321950169094noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11800564.post-11620390069235356102011-12-09T11:48:21.036-06:002011-12-09T11:48:21.036-06:00Somehow, I missed both of your thoughtful comments...Somehow, I missed both of your thoughtful comments, and I apologize not to have responded sooner. Mr. Parkes--I think you did come across as reasonable in the article. My quarrel is really with the tone and structure of the article, which is the fault and responsibility of the writer. Frankly, parents sometimes cannot be stopped, which is not the school's fault. It's the fault of the parents, and the article failed to place the blame where it lies.<br /><br />Clay Boggess--Thank you for commenting, and I wish you and your family the best. It can be a slippery slope between volunteering because you genuinely wish to contribute, and getting over-committed because of a hyper-competitive environment. Beware the warning signs! (as Professor Harold Hill says in The Music Man.)Amy Adamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00085705321950169094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11800564.post-8229883523354769572011-01-15T14:37:16.776-06:002011-01-15T14:37:16.776-06:00As the husband of someone who has a huge heart, I ...As the husband of someone who has a huge heart, I have challenged her to say 'no' to things but I don't think it's in her DNA. When it comes to our children and their elementary school activities she is always helping out because 'someone has to do it'. My hope is that once our kids get older and are in a new school she will take advantage of being in the 'back seat' and relax for a while; however, something in me tells me that this won't happen based on her track record. Oh well, at least our kids appreciate her active involvement.Clay Boggesshttp://www.BigEventFundraising.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11800564.post-82284238375538266232011-01-15T12:51:49.347-06:002011-01-15T12:51:49.347-06:00Gary Parkes here. I was interviewed for this arti...Gary Parkes here. I was interviewed for this article and mentioned above. Keep in mind I answered a media query discussing a broad range of topics relating to volunteering in the schools. I spent about 25 minutes talking with the reporter. At that time you have no idea what the direction of the article will be. Nor do you know what sentence will be used out of the hundreds spoken.<br /><br />I did not love the article as it came out. I was glad that my contribution was a positive one at how we look out of the box to fill the gaps. I did not really get how my input made sense in the finished piece about frazzled moms, but I was not the author.<br /><br />You are right the lack of volunteers did not cause any significant impact to the event.<br /><br />In terms of trying to focus the PTA on academics, many of us try. Unfortunately at many schools there is little to no teacher/staff involvement. I constantly question what are we doing, what is the impact on the kids, should we ask parents to help with only the important things, etc.<br /><br />The one positive out of the article is that it opened a dialogue on this subject.<br /><br />-GaryGary Parkeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17912745330338276946noreply@blogger.com