Volunteering with the Girl Scouts Pays off, Even for this Stressed-out Supermom

Busy? Am I ever! Who isn’t, these days? Being a mother of two, working outside of the home, caring for a puppy, building a new house, and taking care of daily domestic tasks – even if there were more hours in the day it still wouldn’t be enough.

Just think if you had someone to finish that work report, run the kiddos to sports, get groceries, take the dog to the vet, clean the house, or make dinner on occasion. But the reality is, like other moms, I can’t tell you the last time I spent a full day for just lounging around. (I must have been severely sick, that’s for sure!)

And yet, I’m still constantly adding tasks to my day. What’s wrong with me???

For example, volunteering has become a fairly new passion of mine. There always seems to be a need, and not enough support to fill the gap. I’ve volunteered for different events/causes in the past, and I’m always surprised by how much fun I have, the knowledge I take away from the experience, and all the wonderful people I meet.

Even though I wasn’t looking to add another thing to my plate, I put the offer on the table two years ago to help “on occasion” in my daughter’s Girl Scout troop. But there wasn’t another parent willing to step up and volunteer their time to our children. So many parents voiced the concern of not having the opportunity there for the girls. So “occasional volunteering” quickly turned into being an active, involved troop leader to a group of 25+ girls! Funny how that works. I thought, “I can do this,” and two years later it’s still an amazing experience for me.

I hope it has been for all the girls, too. By the looks on those 5 – 10 year-old faces, I have to say it’s been a huge success. I always try to look at these types of situations like this: I may not be the expert, but if I’m going to give it a whirl, it’s going to be the best I’ve got. Many girls wouldn’t have the opportunities that they have been given through the organization.

The Girl Scouts is not just about selling yummy cookies and going camping. We’re learning courage, confidence and character by being involved citizens within our community. Not to mention making memories and having tons of fun!

My hope is that my daughter will find her passion as she grows and be willing to share that with others in her “spare time” as well. If you’re interested in volunteering, whether it’s for the arts, animals, the environment, youth groups, or helping seniors, check out http://www.volunteermatch.org/ for ways to get involved in your area.

By Angie Reed