When I was eight years old, my desire to play soccer led my mother to enroll me at our local recreation club. With just five dollars and a signed permission slip, I became a proud member of the “Red Hots,” donning my standard red T-shirt. The referees were volunteers, we brought our own water bottles, and games took place on a local school field. There were no obligatory “work bonds” for parents, nor did we have to sell anything to enjoy organized sports. At the end of the season, I even got to keep my T-shirt.
My mother never had to pester friends and neighbors to buy overpriced items. Occasionally, a team might need to fundraise for a trip to the state championship, but that usually meant selling candy bars from a cardboard box. Honestly, the only fundraising I remember from my childhood was carrying a UNICEF box on Halloween, collecting spare change to help kids in need around the world. Parents weren’t expected to deplete their bank accounts regularly to fund extravagant field trips or lavish parties. Life was simpler and far more affordable back then.
Fast forward to today, and I have been roped into selling coupon books, gaudy wrapping paper, and candles. My kids have hawked cookie dough and pizza kits to unsuspecting relatives. From candies to flower arrangements, it seems there’s always something to sell to meet the financial demands of our schools and activities. I’ve organized car washes, gathered clothing donations, dined at fast-food joints, and attended silent auctions. We’ve managed to squeeze a small fortune from friends and family “for the kids!” It’s a wonder my family even picks up the phone anymore, considering how many times I’ve initiated a call with, “So, your niece is selling insert overpriced item that nobody would buy at Target.”
Recently, we were asked to sell candles to fund a school trip. The trip cost $75, and the kids would receive a mere 10% of the sale towards their expenses. The candles were priced at $25 each, and although they came from a well-known company, they were smaller than what you could find in stores. So, let’s break this down: you want me to sell $750 worth of scented candles to cover a trip to a waterpark on a bus with a bathroom? That’s 30 candles, folks. Are you kidding me? I don’t even know 30 people, let alone anyone whose home needs enough candles to last a decade.
I understand the financial pressures schools face. I’ve been a PTA president and know the costs associated with assemblies, dances, and field trips. But seriously, does everything have to be so extravagant? Field trips nowadays feel like mini-vacations, complete with fancy buses and Wi-Fi. Class parties have turned into major productions with elaborate meals and crafts that would impress Martha Stewart. Everything is so much bigger and pricier, which is frustrating for families trying to make ends meet.
While I realize fundraising is essential for families lacking extra cash, perhaps we should prioritize finding affordable, inclusive activities that won’t break the bank. The class parties I remember involved simple games like Simon Says, a small cookie, and some juice. There’s a reason my mother never sold chocolates, pies, or hoagies.
And please, spare me the “It’s for the kids!” rhetoric. The extravagant events and parties are usually orchestrated by parents in the school district or sports associations. Nobody is forcing anyone to rent bounce houses or hire DJs with dazzling light shows. Kids would be just as content with a tray of brownies and an iPod filled with music, but it’s often the parents with too much time on their hands who perpetuate this “bigger is better” mentality.
Before you get upset by my critique of your grand carnival, let me acknowledge that I’ve contributed to this fundraising frenzy myself. I’ve solicited donations for school technology, persuaded businesses to contribute to events, and certainly organized class parties overflowing with sugar.
So, when will it end? We need to return to the basics. Less truly is more, and today’s parents seem to have forgotten that kids find joy in simplicity. Our PTAs have operating budgets in the tens of thousands, and some sports associations hold more money than many families earn in a year. It’s excessive, and what are we really trying to prove?
I’ve decided to step away from the fundraising madness and encourage other parents to do the same. I will continue to support my kids and their activities, but I’ll ask for transparency regarding the actual costs and skip selling stale pies in bizarre flavors that end up in my trash can. That said, if anyone is selling chocolate-covered pretzels in pretty tins, feel free to drop by!
In conclusion, we must prioritize simplicity in our approach to fundraising. By focusing on affordable, inclusive activities, we can create enriching experiences for our children without overwhelming families financially.
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