I don’t get paid to write these columns, or to do any of the other stuff I do here. (I don’t think anyone here gets paid)
So why do it? Why do I put in so many hours? Why do I push myself so hard to make GNMP as awesome as it can be, when I receive no remuneration?… Because of two women.
One is my Mom.
My Mom started her career in mental health as a volunteer (at a crisis hotline). Even today, after retiring, she still volunteers, as a member for a county mental health board. She gave me her sense of volunteerism through osmosis, through the process of watching her and listening to her stories about the hotline. Additionally, I didn’t see her receive a paycheck for raising me, cooking me dinner, buying me sneakers, cutting my hair, or any of the other hundred thousand tasks that make up the job of housewife. And now I am one myself, raising the kids fulltime while my wife spends 60 hours a week bringing home the bacon. That’s my Mom, and I have, in no small way, become her. That’s cool. And that’s why I volunteer my 20 hours a week (if it’s an easy week!)…
But there’s another reason why I volunteer at GNMParents. And another woman: My sister.
My sister has been volunteering her time and effort for as long as I can remember. Not just to her own family, but outside her house, at her Temple, at Mother’s Center, at La Leche League. hundreds and hundreds of hours, tens of years, all for free, all done as a way of giving back to her community, to do what she could do to support those who need support.
For me, that’s the deal. Who needs help, I want to be there. So when I discovered GNMP, I knew that this was the way for me, the path, the place I could give of myself, in a way that uses my talents to their fullest. And let me be clear, this is a group of undernoticed, underappreciated, underassisted citizens who are otherwise known as Parents. You know, that group of people who are responsible for the next crop of voters and taxpayers, the next generation of teachers and welders, the next wave of artists and thinkers. Yeah, those people. And they could use a hand, because if we all help out parents, if we all become better parents, well, there’s always that chance that we’ll save the planet. And isn’t that what we were taught when we were kids?
[tags]volunteer, free, breadwinner, emotions, son, daughter, parenting, giving [/tags]
Photo courtesy of hiro008, used under a Creative Commons License.
13 responses so far ↓
Suldog // Jan 22, 2007 at 4:45 pm
You were raised right, Stu. Good for you for passing it on.
TrudyM // Jan 22, 2007 at 5:15 pm
Thanks, dear son. You make me very happy. You also are a wonderful writer!
Your Mom
Barb // Jan 22, 2007 at 8:30 pm
Stu,
It’s good to know that my own volunteer efforts (besides writing here, I am a leader for Attachment Parenting International and a MomsTown Mayor) will most likely have a positive impact on my kids.
Too bad I can’t say that I do it purely for the love of volunteering, though - they’re all because each allows me to have an outlet for a personal interest of mine: writing, gentle parenting, and entrepreneurialism respectively.
Mr. Fabulous // Jan 22, 2007 at 11:17 pm
I liked this post so much that I decided to flog you guys today rather than waiting.
Finn // Jan 22, 2007 at 11:41 pm
Mr. Fabulous said I should come, so here I am!
I’m wondering, are there any resources here for parents of children with disabilities? Sometimes the challenges that we face with our differently abled kids and the ways we deal with them have some relevance to those with “normal” kids.
Plus, it would be nice to hear from others who face some of the same challenges in a more general way than disability-specific.
Megin Hatch // Jan 23, 2007 at 1:28 am
Hi Finn-
Thanks so much for swinging by!
You should totally check out the LD Podcast (we link from our front page). One of our contributors, Whitney Hoffman puts it on. It’s incredible. Whit’s also written a couple of articles that might be relevant.
I am not sure exactly what you’re looking for, but we have part 2 of Annie’s story about her son’s autism coming up later in the week.
Here’s the thing I love about this site: if you don’t see what you want, let us know! The door’s open for you to begin a conversation by submitting an article or we can try and find someone who can contribute on a topic you suggest.
Thanks again for coming by. I hope you’ll poke around and enjoy what you see. You can email me at hatchew at hotmail dot com if you want to discuss this some more!
-Megin
~d // Jan 23, 2007 at 2:18 am
hiya
I am a stay at home Mom and I like so totally appreciate this post.
Hooray to you for writing it, and Hooray to Mr. Fab for showing me the way!
♥
d
Stu Mark // Jan 23, 2007 at 2:44 am
d,
Thanks! Sincerely, what a cool thing to say!!
Yeah, Mr. Fab is a mensch. If only we could convince him to become a father, ’cause he’d be awesome!!!
Fantastagirl // Jan 23, 2007 at 3:30 am
Here Via Mr. Fab.
Great Post today Stu! Your mom should be very proud of you - and what an example you are setting…keep it up!
Steve Sherlock // Jan 23, 2007 at 3:30 am
Stu thanks for stopping by the Hitchhikers Guide. We appreciate the comments. They are manna from heaven.
Stu Mark // Jan 23, 2007 at 4:38 am
Fanastagirl,
First, thanks for the compliment, I sincerely appreciate it.
Second, the pics of your kids in the snow are awesome! (go to her blog to see for yourself)
Stu Mark // Jan 23, 2007 at 4:39 am
Steve,
Thanks for stopping by here! I like how you put that, about the comments, ’cause that is right on the nose. I’m gonna steal that!
~d // Jan 23, 2007 at 5:43 pm
(thank you)
I am glad to have found you.
Be well!
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