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Fall Registration Knowing when to take a break Continued from page 28 29 | Thursday, September 10, 2015 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com "Once those hours are used up, you know that volunteering has to wait until next month." Eyes on the prize: If you feel as though the parent-volunteer pressure has been mounting in recent years, you're not alone. "I think the requests are increasing because we want to give so much more for our children than we had," says Lela Davidson, mom of two and author of Blacklisted from the PTA, a tongue-in-cheek collection of essays about, among other things, her love-hate relationship with school volunteering. "At a recent PTO meeting at my kids' high school, an organizer asked for help with a theme, food, music and games for the afterprom party," she says. "When we were kids, that was called the prom." "In our constant quest to make every event in our kids' lives unforgettable, we're creating a whole lot of work for ourselves." Burnout buster: Prioritize volunteer activities that have the biggest impact on your child's success in school, and put the rest in the "not now" pile. For example, that might mean spending more time assisting with the track team or supervising the lunchroom, and cutting back on other volunteer pursuits. Banish guilt: Maybe fundraising isn't your thing, supervising the second-grade field trip to the zoo leaves you drained, or you can't leave work to help your child's class make risotto. Don't waste time and energy feeling bad about it, Caroline says. "Either volunteer or don't, but there's never room for guilt." Burnout buster: If there's one key to volunteer satisfaction, it might be this: Find the one volunteer activity you really enjoy -- or at least, don't hate -- and do that. Extroverted parents may love staffing school dances and helping out in the classroom, but that won't work for everyone. Play to your strengths and schedule: Tech-savvy parents can update the school website or facilitate a class Facebook page; those who can't get away until after the kids are in bed can help clean up after a school event, instead of working the entire thing. "Parents who can't attend daytime events can stay connected to teachers and coaches via email," says Caroline. Stick to a regular check-in schedule -- every two weeks or every month -- and ask what your child can focus on that month to help support her success. Malia Jacobson is an award-winning health and parenting journalist and mom of three. (5 and 6 year olds, 2009/2010 birth years for 2015/16 season) minOr Oaks hOckey assOciatiOn initiatiOn prOgram starting this fall Evaluation Skates October 17-18, 2015 Season starts October 25, 2015 Season ends by March 4, 2016 Gala Day March 6, 2016 players On ice twice/week Monday-Thursday: Skill development Sunday: Games/practice sessions price $375 OptiOn tO purchase equipment packages shoulder, elbow, neck, mouth, shin pads, pants, bag. $49. Protective package, skates, stick and helmet. $99. protective package includes full package includes It's easier than you think! Learn Spanish & French 905-334-7876 Equipment will be fully fitted through Corbett's Source for sports. MOHA is a member association of the Ontario Minor Hockey Association and Hockey Canada. All coaches are OMHA certified. Location: 346 Maple Grove Drive, Oakville info@unicasolutions.ca · Have FUN! Play Hockey! Learn the FUNdamentals! · Professionally trained instructor overseeing the program · NHL themed teams · Questions? Please call the MOHA 905-338-9220 registration online at www.moha.ca