Not the PTA president

Several weeks ago, a friend from our ward called me wanting to find someone who could be PTA president because he was worried about who seemed to be getting involved in our fledgeling school (it's not quite completely built yet). I consulted with my very own PTA guru (current and past PTA president of our old beloved school), fully expecting that she would tell me that it was too much for me at this point in my life. Instead, she told me that if I had a good, committed bunch of people with me that it was doable. And so I said I would be the "face" if we could get a good group together.

We began to attend meetings and be involved. I helped draft the brand new PTA bylaws. Several friends were on the nominating committee and nominated me to be president and other good women for other offices. We helped out with registration; we participated. As this process continued and more people found out I was willing to do this, more people went behind my back to chastise my friends, assuming that I had been bullied or cajoled into getting involved. I have been surprised at how many people seemed so very protective of me. That part was quite flattering. Ultimately, the whole nominating process came down to a series of interviews the committee held with each candidate. The presidency slot was between me--a woman never before involved in PTA, but someone who has been a part of each of the feeder schools, has kids in multiple grades with experience with gifted classes, with getting and maintaining an IEP (special ed), and with juggling (oh so much juggling)--and another woman who is coming from our former beloved school on a zone variance, has only 2 kids, no experience outside said beloved school, but she has been involved in the PTA. She was chosen.

When the principal called to tell me the decision, I had (and have continued to have) mixed feelings on the whole subject. As it turns out, only one of the women our little group put forth succeeded in being nominated. (apparently, we needed to have more people on the nominating committee in our camp!) She will be wonderful. All the women chosen will be wonderful and it will be a good school and a good first year and we will build a community of involved families. I feel relieved to not have that additional thing on my plate. But I feel a little like the kid who was dragged to the play date and then not chosen for any of the games. I didn't want to do this, but felt like it needed to be done and then they didn't pick me after all. Hmph. Yeah, that about sums it up. Hmph.